Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticized the DMK and AIADMK leadership for their silence on the Mekedatu dam controversy. He questioned the lack of response from Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami regarding Karnataka’s proposed project across the Cauvery River.
Tagore supported Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reject the Mekedatu reservoir project. He emphasized that this issue is crucial for Tamil Nadu’s water rights and the livelihoods of numerous farmers relying on Cauvery water.
In a social media post, Tagore highlighted the absence of strong opposition from Udhayanidhi Stalin and commended Chief Minister Vijay for taking a decisive stance to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests. He criticized AIADMK’s Edappadi K. Palaniswami for not directly challenging the Union government on this matter.
Tagore urged Prime Minister Modi to promptly dismiss the Mekedatu proposal to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water. He emphasized that the project contradicts both the Supreme Court judgment and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final award, posing a significant threat to Tamil Nadu’s farmers.
The ongoing Mekedatu issue has reignited tensions between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar reaffirming the state’s commitment to the project. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the dam, citing concerns that it could diminish the state’s Cauvery water allocation and breach the established water-sharing framework.
Chief Minister Vijay is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Modi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and senior Congress leaders in New Delhi to discuss the Mekedatu matter, which is expected to be a focal point of the discussions.
