Cauvery meet: Rare unity on show

Leader of Opposition MK Stalin, who demanded an exclusive department to take up works, including rain and flood water harvesting and desilting waterbodies expressed his gladness over the state accepting the party’s demands to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and meeting the Prime Minister.

MDMK chief Vaiko urged the state to file a review petition on the verdict. Expressing solidarity with the state government, BJP state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan told the gathering that the union cabinet would give its nod for the CMB in its ensuing meeting.

However, CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan cautioned that the mere meeting with PM would not help much but the state should keep pressurising the Centre. Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani observed that the present meeting which had cut across party lines as an important trait for the state’s future. “Tamil Nadu will reap the benefits of this unity,” he said. PMK leader GK Mani insisted that the CMB be formed on the lines of Bhakra Beas Management Board. “CMB should have more teeth,” he said.