Chennai, Jul 30 (PTI) The ruling TVK on Thursday hit back at the DMK for criticising the Tamil Nadu government over the Mekedatu balancing reservoir issue, asserting that it would not compromise on the state’s rights.
The Opposition DMK said the TVK was speaking as though the controversy over neighbouring Karnataka’s proposed balancing reservoir had arisen only after its founder, C Joseph Vijay, was sworn in as chief minister on May 10.
“If that is so, is the DMK indirectly admitting that it remained ‘asleep’ during its five-year rule in the state?” the TVK asked in the statement, accusing the previous DMK government of “failing to safeguard” Tamil Nadu’s interests.
The statement said that despite its electoral defeat, DMK leaders continued to speak as though they were still in office.
“This only shows how disconnected the DMK is from reality. Had it acted when it was in power, the people would not have pushed it into the Opposition. Instead of accepting its failures, the DMK continues to indulge in politics driven by frustration, jealousy and the desperation to regain power,” it said.
“Be it the Mekedatu balancing reservoir issue or any other matter concerning Tamil Nadu’s rights, farmers or the welfare of the people, the TVK government will never compromise,” the statement added.
DMK president M K Stalin said farmers had been let down by the TVK government on several fronts, including the crop loan waiver, its handling of the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir issue, the delayed opening of the Mettur dam affecting Kuruvai paddy cultivation, and the delay in convening an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu row.
He announced that the DMK would stage a massive protest in Thanjavur on August 3 under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin, demanding that the government take concrete steps to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s rights over the Cauvery waters and announce a special relief package for farmers in the Cauvery delta.
The former CM warned that ignoring the concerns of farmers would trigger large-scale protests.
The protest has been announced ahead of Vijay’s proposed visit to Bengaluru for bilateral talks with his Karnataka counterpart D K Shivakumar on the contentious Mekedatu balancing reservoir project.
The visit, the first high-level engagement between the two states on the issue in years, follows an invitation from the Congress government in Karnataka.
Stalin had earlier cautioned Vijay against falling into the “Congress trap”, saying bilateral talks would only dilute Tamil Nadu’s legally secured rights. PTI JSP SSK
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