Cong will resolve Cauvery dispute after returning to power, says Chidambaram

Speaking to reporters here, the former union minister also said the prime minister's attack on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, while raking up the National Herald case at a poll rally, will have no impact on electoral prospects of the Congress party in the May 12 Karnataka assembly polls as all charges were "bogus".

Addressing a rally in Hubballi yesterday, Modi had hit back at the Congress for targetting BJP's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, saying the mother and son who are out on bail and are facing allegations of involvement in a Rs 5,000 crore scam are questioning the BJP. Chidambaram said that Modi, instead of levelling charges against Gandhis in public, should make them in Parliament. "If he wants to level any charges, let him stand up in Parliament and make the charge and we will reply... It (reference to National Herald case) will not have any impact on the electoral prospects of the Congress in the ensuing election," the Congress leader said.

Chidambaram said all charges against Gandhis are bogus but Modi wants to portray the issue as if they have committed a major crime.

"It is a routine procedure that the court summons... You appear and the court grants bail...," he stated.

To a query, Chidambaram said the Congress would solve the Cauvery water dispute when they come back to power.

He also blamed Modi for declining to solve the problem as suggested by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

In the national capital, the Supreme Court today told the Centre that it was in "sheer contempt" of its direction on Cauvery water sharing for failing to frame a scheme for distribution of water between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

The apex court, in February, had asked the Centre to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance of its judgement on the decades-old Cauvery dispute.