Tamil Nadu govt lacking direction as Jayalalithaa is in hospital: Karunanidhi
The Cauvery issue needs urgent attention and until Jayalalithaa resumes work, legal steps should be taken to fulfil the wishes of the people of Tamil Nadu, says Karunanidhi
Chennai: As Tamil Nadu chief minister J.Jayalalithaa continues to stay in hospital for nearly three weeks, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M.Karunanidhi on Monday said in a statement that Tamil Nadu lacks “proper direction"and mentioned that the Cauvery issue requires 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 in a statement.
The Cauvery issue needs urgent attention and the interests of the farmers are at stake, he said. Until Jayalalithaa resumes her work, necessary legal steps should be taken to implement the needs of the people of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi said.
On Friday, after a day-long protest fast organized by the DMK to condemn the Centre’s stand on Cauvery, the party treasurer and the leader of the opposition M.K.Stalin said, “If the state government fails to convene an all-party meet on Cauvery within two days, then the DMK will lead an all-party delegation to meet prime minister Narendra Modi seeking justice to Tamil Nadu."
Though Stalin has constantly stressed that the DMK doesn’t want to politicize things when the chief minister is unwell, the opposition has been slowly mounting pressure on the ruling party by keeping the Cauvery issue at the forefront.
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“It is the wish of the people of Tamil Nadu that the Centre or governor should decide and immediately take action," Karunanidhi said.
He also added that the Karnataka government has disrespected the orders of the Supreme Court and the Tamil Nadu government is unable to put enough pressure on the Central government in favour of the state. Karunanidhi also slammed the BJP on the Cauvery issue, for changing its stand on constituting the Cauvery Management Board.
“The BJP at the Centre is also not ready to constitute a Cauvery Management Board," he said. BJP’s actions clearly indicate their political interests in Karanataka, ahead of the assembly elections, next year, he said.
Stalin had last week demanded the state government to name an interim chief minister or a deputy chief minister till Jayalalithaa recovers and returns to carry out her official duties.
The 68-year old chief minister was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals in Chennai on 22 September.
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The latest press release from the Apollo Hospitals, where Tamil Nadu chief minister is undergoing treatment, said on Monday that she “is being constantly monitored and other consultants in the expert panel" and “continues to be under treatment."
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