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Kumaramangalam finds Jaya's stand on Cauvery 'unfair'

Union Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam on Tuesday termed All India Anna DMK chief J Jayalalitha's opposition to the new agreement on the Cauvery water dispute as "unfair".

He urged her not to politicise the issue.

The minister was all praise for Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, who was instrumental in clinching the agreement during a meeting of the four chief ministers last week. Everyone should welcome the agreement as it would facilitate the release of 205 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu, he added.

Referring to Jayalalitha's allegation that Vajpayee did not consult the AIADMK-led front before or during the negotiations and the matter was not discussed by the Union Cabinet, he said Vajpayee had convened the meeting as per the advice of the Supreme Court and he did not finalise the agreement unilaterally. Moreover, when he convened the meeting, no one had opposed it. Hence, it was unfair to criticise the government after an amicable solution was found, he said.

On the AIADMK's threat to review support to the Vajpayee government, he said the prime minister had proved his efficiency by solving the long-pending dispute. The BJP-led government had also proved its stability by ensuring the passage of the Budget and several other bills, including the Electricity Regulatory Authority Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Kumaramangalam said differences of opinion were bound to arise in a coalition government. But it was incorrect to say that they would constitute a threat to the government. However, if the present tendency among the BJP-led coalition partners continued, it would not be good for the country's economy, he added.

Referring to the charge that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's name was included in the action taken report on the Jain Commission report due to outside pressure, he said it was a collective decision of the Union Cabinet and no one should be blamed.

UNI

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