BackM.K. Stalin meets O. Panneerselvam to discuss Cauvery water issue
Stalin sought an all-party meeting and a special sitting of the legislative assembly to discuss the Cauvery water issue
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Chennai: Leader of the opposition M.K. Stalin and other leaders on Friday met Tamil Nadu finance minister O. Panneerselvam and public works minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, seeking an all-party meeting and a special sitting of the legislative assembly to discuss the Cauvery water issue.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders led by Stalin handed over a copy of a resolution passed in a meeting with farmer association members held on Thursday at the party’s headquarters.
A copy of the resolution has also been sent to Tamil Nadu chief secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao, Stalin told reporters after meeting Panneerselvam.
“Legal channels are one way of dealing with the Cauvery issue. But all parties should speak in one voice over the issue. Like Karnataka, we (Tamil Nadu) should also come together in an all-party meeting," Stalin said.
AIADMK spokesperson Panruti S Ramachandran said an all-party meeting was not required.
Stalin and the DMK leaders also urged the ruling All India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to send a delegation of political leaders and farmer representatives from Tamil Nadu to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to present the state’s case in the water sharing dispute with Karnataka.
With Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa hospitalised since 22 September, the governor’s office said in a statement on Tuesday that Panneerselvam had been given charge of all portfolios of Jayalalithaa who would continue to be chief minister.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu govt lacking direction as Jayalalithaa is in hospital: Karunanidhi
Earlier in the week, DMK chief M.Karunanidhi said in a statement that Tamil Nadu lacked “proper direction"and that the Cauvery issue required immediate attention.
“It is everybody’s opinion that the state government is lacking direction because the chief minister is in hospital. Though no all-party or Cabinet meeting or special assembly session had been held on behalf of the AIADMK government, all the parties in Tamil Nadu are united in supporting the demands of farmers and in constituting the Cauvery Management Board," Karunanidhi said.
The Cauvery issue needs urgent attention and the interests of the farmers are at stake, he said. Karunanidhi had also slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for changing its stand on constituting the Cauvery Management Board.
The high-level technical committee constituted by the Supreme Court to assess the ground reality in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu conducted its inspection of the delta districts in Tamil Nadu on Sunday and Monday. The committee will file its report by 17 October to the Supreme Court bench.
Meanwhile, farmer associations in Tamil Nadu have decided to disrupt train services for 48 hours from 17-18 October, when the Cauvery issue comes up before the Supreme Court.
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