Seeking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to resolve the Cauvery water issue, Karnataka on Monday slammed the plea moved by Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court and vowed to fight it legally and politically.
Intervening during the debate on the interim application filed by the neighbouring state seeking a direction to restrain Karnataka from drawing water for summer crops, Chief Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda took a dig at Tamil Nadu for raking up the issue.
"The government would effectively deal with the situation. The interest of farmers in the cauvery basin would be protected. There is no need to get provoked by Tamil Nadu's action in the light of its petition yet to be listed for hearing", Gowda said in the assembly after Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai made a statement on the matter.
Gowda urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and resolve the issue. The Centre is taking the initiative to frame a national water policy during the 12th plan, he said.
Tamil Nadu has already filed at least three applications even as the apex court has not heard them and decided to take them along with the main petition challenging the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on allocating water share among the riparain states, he pointed out.
Gowda said he would also hold consultations with the opposition and other political leaders while charting out the state's course of action on Tamil Nadu's plea.