Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami will lead a delegation of leaders of all parties, farmers and MPs from the state to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Cauvery issue, an all party meet decided here today.
Days after the Supreme Court verdict reduced the quantum of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu by 14.65 tmc ft, the meet resolved to urge Modi to immediately set up the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority as per the apex court's order to set up the bodies within six weeks.
A resolution was adopted at the meet endorsing it.
In a show of solidarity, three unanimous resolutions were adopted at the meet, held at the Secretariat, where leaders of parties, including DMK working president M K Stalin and farmers' leaders participated.
Similarly, appropriate action will be taken by consulting legal experts on the cut in the quantum of water for Tamil Nadu, the second resolution said.
This decision to take steps follows acceptance of the views of all party leaders in this respect, an official release here said.
Another resolution said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be urged to immediately implement the apex court verdict's beneficial features for Tamil Nadu.
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'Bonhomie' meet after over a decade ....................................
The day-long meet was marked by a rare bonhomie, in which leaders including Palaniswami and Stalin, who is also the Leader of Opposition, exchanged pleasantries.
The all party meet on the issue assumes significance as it takes place after nearly 11 years in Tamil Nadu, the earlier being on April 15, 2007 when DMK chief M Karunanidhi was the chief minister.
At that meet, it was decided to file a review petition in the apex court to seek clarifications and prefer an appeal, if needed, on the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal.
During the previous tenure of Jayalalithaa, no all party meet was held.
In his opening remarks, Palaniswami batted for unity among parties to establish the state's rights despite differences.
He said, "Cauvery water dispute is not only the livelihood issue of our Cauvery Delta farmers' but it is intertwined with the emotions of the state."
He assured action based on their feedback by consulting legal experts.
Assuring his party's full support to the government on the issue, Stalin said steps should also be taken to save, conserve and economically use the Cauvery water by setting up a Water Security Board in sync with a recommendation of renowned farm scientist M S Swaminathan.
He sought a separate department to take up works including rain and flood water harvesting and desilting waterbodies.
BJP Tamil Nadu unit president Tamilisai Soundararjan said her party will stand behind the government in its efforts to secure the state's rights on the issue. ..............................................
Karnataka blamed for "selfishness" ..................................
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam cited Sangam Tamil literature and said the Cauvery was an intrinsic part in the life of the Tamil Nadu people.
Blaming Karnataka, he said, "the reason for the Cauvery dispute is the selfishness of Karnataka to claim exclusive rights over the river."
That such a "selfish attitude, has not changed to this day is reflected in their recent speeches," he said without naming anyone from the neighbouring state.
Panneerselvam recalled the steps taken by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa for publication of the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal in the central gazette.
"Amma's government had never compromised on Tamil Nadu's rights even a bit," he said.
He urged the participants to air their views to take up "resolute" follow up action.
Some farmers raised slogans briefly while seeking appropriate compensation for crop losses when Panneerselvam came out of the meeting venue.
State secretaries of CPI, CPI (M), R Mutharasan and K Balakrishnan respectively, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalavan, AISMK chief R Sarath Kumar, PMK leader GK Mani were among 39 leaders who took part.
Representatives of 14 farmers bodies including P R Pandian and Vettavalam K Manikandan participated.
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