Chennai, Aug 3 (IANS) AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday called upon the Tamil Nadu government to convene an all-party meeting to deliberate on the Cauvery water dispute and Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project, asserting that a united political and legal strategy was essential to safeguard the State’s interests.
Speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to freedom fighter Dheeran Chinnamalai at Guindy on his 221st death anniversary, Palaniswami said the ruling TVK government should consult all political parties, legal experts and farmers before taking any major decision on the long-pending inter-State river dispute.
The former Chief Minister alleged that the present government lacked adequate experience in handling a complex and sensitive issue such as the Cauvery dispute. He said that although the party had come to power in a relatively short span after its formation, the administration should adopt a broader consultative approach instead of making unilateral decisions.
Palaniswami questioned the steps taken by the government to secure Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water and claimed that it had not effectively pursued the implementation of the Supreme Court’s verdict on the dispute. He maintained that protecting the State’s water rights required sustained legal and administrative efforts backed by political consensus.
Emphasising the legal dimension of the issue, the AIADMK leader said the Cauvery dispute and the proposed Mekedatu reservoir project should be pursued only after extensive consultations with senior legal experts. A well-prepared legal strategy, he said, would strengthen Tamil Nadu’s case before the appropriate judicial and statutory forums.
Palaniswami also criticised the government for allegedly ignoring suggestions made by leaders of various political parties on the Cauvery issue. Referring to developments in neighbouring Karnataka, he noted that the Karnataka government had convened an all-party meeting and sought the opinions of political leaders and farmers before deciding its course of action on the Mekedatu project.
Recalling past precedents, Palaniswami said both AIADMK and DMK governments had previously convened all-party meetings whenever the Cauvery issue assumed significance. He urged the present government to follow the same tradition by inviting all recognised political parties and representatives of farmers’ organisations to formulate a common stand.
Responding to another question, Palaniswami said the AIADMK General Council meeting would be convened shortly, though he did not disclose the date or agenda of the proposed meeting.
–IANS
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