Chennai, Aug 2 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Minister Nirmal Kumar has accused the DMK of working with Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to create hurdles to the release of Cauvery water to the state, alleging that the opposition party does not want CM Vijay to receive political credit for resolving the long-standing inter-state water dispute.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Nirmal Kumar alleged that the DMK was attempting to prevent the Vijay government from securing Tamil Nadu’s legitimate share of Cauvery water.
He claimed that the party’s actions were politically motivated and aimed at denying the Chief Minister public recognition over the issue. “The DMK does not want Chief Minister Vijay to earn goodwill among the people. That is why it is creating obstacles in the Cauvery issue along with Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar,” Nirmal Kumar alleged.
The Minister also questioned the AIADMK’s approach to the Cauvery dispute, asking why the party had chosen to approach the courts instead of registering its opposition and pressing the issue strongly in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Referring to demands for an all-party meeting on the Cauvery dispute, Nirmal Kumar said there was a lack of political unity in Tamil Nadu on the issue.
He maintained that differences among political parties should not be allowed to weaken the state’s efforts to secure its rightful share of Cauvery water.
Responding to DMK president M.K. Stalin’s claim that Chief Minister Vijay had become politically isolated, the Minister said such statements would have no bearing on the interests of Tamil Nadu or its people.
The government, he asserted, would continue to pursue the state’s water rights irrespective of political criticism from opposition parties.
Nirmal Kumar also targeted Karnataka CM Shivakumar, questioning whether the Congress leadership was in a position to influence him on the Cauvery issue.
He alleged that Shivakumar was not prepared to listen to the Congress high command on the water-sharing dispute and claimed that the Karnataka leader was more inclined to heed Stalin.
The Minister’s remarks come amid continuing political exchanges in Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery dispute, with parties trading accusations over the strategy required to ensure the state receives its stipulated share of water from Karnataka.
The issue has once again emerged as a major political flashpoint, with the ruling and opposition camps accusing each other of undermining Tamil Nadu’s interests.
–IANS
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