Bangalore: Taking strong objection to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa seeking modifications in the conduct of business of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA), Karnataka on November 6 termed it as "irrelevant and unconstitutional".

Karnataka Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs D B Chandregowda, joining issue with Jayalalithaa, told reporters, "Constitutional validity of CRA cannot be questioned and such an action is inappropriate."

Reminding Jayalalithaa that the jurisdiction of the CRA, constituted under the orders of the Supreme Court, has been outlined while it was set up with consensus among the four riparian states.

The Supreme Court in its recent two orders has subjected the decisions on the Cauvery water-sharing tangle to the purview of the CRA, he pointed out.

Ridiculing Jayalalithaa's attempts to "throw a gauntlet at the drop of a hat", Gowda said, "Jayalalithaa who started speaking through CRA in the beginning, later did through the Supreme Court and now through the media."

Gowda further said it is unfortunate that Jayalalithaa is seeking changes to a "national action", to Interstate River Disputes Act of 1956, and added if all the states felt the need for it, Karnataka has no objection.

Gowda, while referring to the remark of Jayalalithaa who had taken a stand that the CRA was not the appellate authority, said the Supreme Court itself had observed that it can modify its orders. "Hence Karnataka has been filing applications before the CRA seeking modifications."

PTI