Chennai
Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar is certain that the Cauvery Management Board would be formed on May 14 itself. “We will not compromise on Cauvery rights. We have told the court that we don’t trust the Centre. The Union government is answerable to the court on issues of national integrity and federal principle.”
Law Minister CV Shanmugam, who was more optimistic, pointed out that the Union Water Resources secretary had been summoned by the Supreme Court to appear on May 14 and said, “The summon order signals that the case is moving towards the final stages and the Centre cannot delay it further. The judges during the hearing today had strongly intervened to make an observation that whatever body the Union government forms must have the powers to implement its judgment. This only means that the Cauvery Management Board will be formed.”
Dismissing fears that the Union government’s draft scheme would be against Tamil Nadu, BJP state leaders said, “If the scheme is favourable to Karnataka, the Centre could have submitted it before the Karnataka elections so that the move brings political gain to the party. Since, the draft scheme will be favourable to Tamil Nadu the Centre is concealing its plans and not submitting it in the Supreme Court.” One of the BJP leaders said, “Actually, the Centre is not going to do anything favourable to Tamil Nadu. The Supreme Court judgment itself is favourable to Tamil Nadu and the Centre will implement it.”
However, Opposition leaders and farmers were apprehensive over the Centre’s draft scheme to be submitted on May 14. Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran flayed the BJP for using Cauvery issue as a tool for political gains and accused it of acting without conscience and sympathy. He also charged the state government with acting in a hypocritical manner and afraid to raise its voice against the Centre. Dhinakaran said the people of Tamil Nadu would teach a fitting lesson to the BJP and its partner AIADMK. PR Pandian, coordinator of All Tamil Nadu Farmers Associations too expressed his frustration over the delay and said the Union Water Resources secretary must have been summoned earlier.
Dejected Delta farmers plan to jump into sea off Nagai on May 15
Cauvery Delta farmers, who have lost hope on the Supreme Court, which has been stretching the hearing of cases pertaining to the Cauvery issue, have decided to intensify their protest in various forms.
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Farmers’ Associations went on a hunger strike in Tiruchy on Tuesday condemning the Union government. A few hours after the start of the protest, the news about the adjournment of hearing came adding to anguish of the farmers. As a reaction, they immediately announced a falling into the sea protest in Nagapattinam on May 15.
K Sellamuthu, coordinator of the JAC, said, “Indifferent attitude of the Centre towards Tamil Nadu is obvious with the deliberate delay in forming the CMB. We now feel that everything that is going on in New Delhi is merely a drama.” Meanwhile, condemning the Union government members of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association and CPI held demonstration in front of the BSNL office in the evening. CPI leaders Indirajit and Aylai Sivasuriyan took part in it. Similarly in Thanjavur, the CPI cadre held road blockade protest at Sengipatti.
CRRC to picket Thanjavur airbase on May 12
Reacting to the postponement of Supreme Court hearing on the Cauvery issue, the Cauvery Rights Retrieval Committee has announced a picketing of the IAF airbase in Thanjavur on May 12. Speaking to reporters at Thanjavur, the committee’s coordinator P Maniarasan said, “The Union government has lost its neutrality and been favoring Karnataka while discriminating against Tamil Nadu. Demanding the establishment of powerful CMB and declaration of delta areas as the agricultural protected zone, we are going to picket the IAF airbase.”
SC colluding with Centre against TN, accuses DMK-led Opposition
Expressing regret at the Supreme Court granting time till May 14 for the Centre to submit its draft scheme in the Cauvery case, the all-party meeting chaired by the DMK on Tuesday accused the apex court of partnering with the Centre against Tamil Nadu.
A resolution adopted in the meeting regretfully pointed out that it does not bode well for democracy and Constitution when people appreciating judicial independence view the apex court’s handling of the Cauvery case with regret and remorse.
The DMK-led Opposition also condemned the ruling BJP for deliberately challenging the Constitutional provisions by creating an artificial emergency and repeatedly filing petitions seeking more time in the Cauvery case keeping in mind the Karnataka Assembly elections.
Emerging out of the meeting, DMK working president MK Stalin accompanied by other leaders told reporters at Anna Arivalayam that they would meet again on May 15 to discuss the future course of action on Cauvery row.
Asked if he were confident of the SC doing justice to Tamil Nadu, more so after he accused the court of partnering with the Centre against the Tamil Nadu, the DMK working president said, “We will wait for the outcome of the May 14 hearing in the case and meet on the following day to decide if we should hold massive protests or something else,” even as his deputy Duraimurugan wore a sarcastic smile and nodded in disapproval.
Also accusing the ruling AIADMK of consenting to the Centre’s petitions seeking more time in the case, the resolution claimed that the direction of the SC ordering Karnataka to release 4 tmcft to Tamil Nadu has not featured in the May 8 order of the court.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android