Bangalore: JD-S leader HD Deve Gowda on Thursday lamented "lack of unity" among parties in Karnataka over the Cauvery issue and asked them to follow the example of Tamil Nadu, where parties have spoken in one voice on the dispute.
"As opposed to Tamil Nadu where political parties are united on the issue despite infighting among themselves, in Karnataka unfortunately political parties are not united even on this issue, which is of prime concern to the state," he said while addressing advocates in the High Court premises here.
Taking an indirect swipe at his bete noire, former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa who quit BJP and launched Karnataka Janata Party, he said "with new parties mushrooming everyday, where is the question of unity among political leaders?"
Urging advocates to form a committee comprising senior advocates to tackle the issue, Deve Gowda criticised the state government for its `inept` handling of the dispute.
His appeals to the Centre and state government for an amicable resolution of the issue, keeping the welfare of both states in mind had fallen on deaf ears, he said.
Deve Gowda said he had met Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar yesterday and asked him to pressurise the Centre to not notify the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
If it was notified, Karnataka would be forced to release water to Tamil Nadu, he said.
"Water is essential for survival and Karnataka really needs it. The Centre should look at the position of the state compassionately", he said.
PTI
