Cauvery row: Stalin flays parties for boycotting DMK meeting

Questioning their abstention from the meeting, Stalin referred to similar all-party meet conducted in Karnataka and said that several organisation here had expressed support and participated, but a few parties had abstained from the meeting. “Parties in Karnataka have come together to commit a wrong, but we are demanding the constitution of Cauvery Management Board in conformity with Supreme Court order. I had invited all parties for the meeting after our repeated requests to the ruling AIADMK to convene the State Assembly and adopt a resolution to mount pressure on the Centre went unheeded,” Stalin said, adding, “Some parties here did not attend the meeting. Why did they not attend (for all-party meeting)? Because there is no unity among us. This is the reality in Tamil Nadu, whereas political parties in Karnataka have joined hands despite having political differences only to deny us water.”

In another statement, Stalin expressed concern over the ongoing bi-lateral fishermen talks in New Delhi and urged the ruling AIADMK to mount more pressure on the Centre to secure the rights of the state fishermen. Noting that fishermen and their detained boats have not been released even during the talks, Stalin alleged that neither the Centre nor Tamil Nadu seem to have emphasized the issue during the talks. Describing the talks as mere eyewash, the DMK treasurer said the ruling AIADMK should boldly mount pressure on the Centre and if need be, even finance minister O Panneerselvam who holds CM’s portfolios, should represent TN in the talks.