Bengaluru: Defending State’s counsel Fali S. Nariman, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday, not to cast aspersions on Nariman as he was an experienced counsel and safeguarded the State’s interest.

Addressing mediapersons after the Congress Coordination Committee, the CM said, “Nariman did not consult the State on the release of water to Tamil Nadu during the tenure of Jagadish Shettar government. But he has safeguarded the State’s interests while arguing the case before the Supreme Court”. He further said that all political parties should take equal responsibility for the State’s stand on the Cauvery.

The all-party meet had taken the decision to allow the State’s legal team, led by Nariman to finalise the submission to the Supreme Court on the quantum of Cauvery waters to be released to Tamil Nadu, said Siddaramaiah.

On September 5, Nariman had expressed the willingness to release water at the rate of 10,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for six days. This was done as a goodwill gesture by Nariman keeping in mind the State’s main petition challenging the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final award, which is likely to come up for hearing on October 18.

Siddaramaiah also stated that Tamil Nadu had demanded release of 20,000 cusecs of water, while the Supreme Court directed Karnataka to release water at 15,000 cusecs for 10 days. Unfortunately, the court directed the State to release water at 15,000 cusecs for 10 days, added the CM.