Hubballi: Angered by the decision of the Centre to extend the term of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal by a year, farmer leaders here are accusing the Congress and BJP of delaying settlement of the inter-state dispute with an eye on the coming elections in Goa at the cost of Karnataka farmers.
The Centre on Thursday extended the term of the tribunal, which ends on August 20, by a year. “Former PM Manmohan Singh set up the tribunal on the insistence of Congress president, Sonia Gandhi despite opposition from Karnataka farmers and now PM Narendra Modi has refused to intervene in the dispute and instead extended the term of the tribunal on the advice of BJP leaders from Goa owing to the election in that state. This is injustice to Karnataka,” protested Kalasa Banduri Horata Samiti president, Vijay Kulkarni.
Accusing the Centre of treating Karnataka unfairly in the dispute, the leaders warned that the issue could lead to another farmer rebellion on the lines of the one that claimed five lives in 1980.
186 get conditional bail
Hubballi: The Dharwad district and principal sessions court has granted conditional bail to 186 people arrested in connection with violence in Navalgund.
Judge V. Shreeshananda had completed the hearing of the case and the arguments of advocates representing people of Navalgund on Thursday and had reserved his judgement for Friday. The public prosecutor refrained from filing objections to the bail petition moved by the petitioners. As no objection was filed by the government, the petitioners easily got bail. However, the Judge has listed seven conditions for the accused before granting bail. The judge directed the petitioners not to tamper with prosecution witnesses in any manner and not to hamper the investigation. The judge said the accused should not repeat similar offense which would paralyse peace and tranquility in the area. They should not leave the jurisdiction of the court without prior permission.
The judge said the petitioners should mark their attendance in the police station every Monday till the chargesheet is filed.
