CM attacks DMK over Cauvery issue

The long and arduous legal battle launched by the AIADMK government resulted in the 'historic' victory for Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery issue, Chief Minister K Palaniswami today said and accused DMK chief M Karunanidhi of having 'betrayed' the state by withdrawing a case in 1971.

"MGR (late chief minister M G Ramachandran) worked for it, Amma (his protege Jayalalithaa) worked for it and now we are following their footsteps. AIADMK is spearheading this fight. We even protested stalling the Parliament for 22 days," he said.

Palaniswami was addressing a public meeting organised here to celebrate the Centre's recent action of constituting the Cauvery Water Management Authority as per the orders of the Supreme Court.

 

Attacking arch-rival DMK, he said: "In 1971, DMK withdrew case filed by the state government in the Supreme Court under political pressure. Indira Gandhi was then Prime Minister. DMK and Karunanidhi betrayed people. Had he not withdrawn the case, we would have found a solution to the dispute long ago."

Acting on the Supreme Court's direction, the Centre had constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to address the dispute over sharing of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry and issued a gazette notification.

Intermittently taking jibes at the DMK, the chief minister listed out various schemes of the ruling party.

He also criticised AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran for claiming stake in the party without "toiling or working" for the party.

"Eighteen MLAs, who enjoyed trust of Amma, conspired with DMK to break the ruling party," he said referring to the MLAs loyal to Dhinkaran who have been disqualified.

"But do you know how much hardwork Amma put in?" he asked, asserting that the party and its government cannot be broken by anyone.

Noting that water from Mettur Dam could be opened only when the water level crossed 90 ft, Palaniswami said the Cauvery catchment areas were getting good rainfall and "God will help us get water in plenty this year."

He said the government was concentrating on several water management schemes. A three-year plan had been devised to construct check dams at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore at various places in the state to harness rainwater flowing into the sea.