Jayakumar’s caution to Centre on Cauvery Management Board

“The orders were issued by the highest court, and we believe such orders will be honoured by the Centre,” he noted. The minister maintained that the AIADMK government had exerted maximum pressure by stalling the Lok Sabha and holding demonstrations. “The future course of action would be decided by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami after consultations,” Jayakumar said. 

Responding to principal opposition DMK’s resolutions condemning the state, Jayakumar wondered why the same party’s conference had not passed any resolution slamming Karnataka for not accepting the Cauvery verdict which in its entirety has Cauvery Management Board (CMB). 

“The DMK is in no mood to antagonise the ruling Congress in neighbouring Karnataka. The Opposition feigns ignorance as to Karnataka not paying heed to the final orders issued by the court, which includes the formation of the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee. The DMK should have had the political will to adopt resolutions against Karnataka in this regard,” he said.

Jayakumar also who took a swipe at DMK working president M K Stalin and said the latter should not resort to unparliamentary words. On actor-turned politician Kamal Haasan’s remarks on according his priority to Lokayukta if he comes to power, Jayakumar said the Kamal’s thoughts would remain as figments of his imagination. He said the state was waiting for the Centre to amend the central Bill, and implement the same. 

“The state would urge the Centre to devolve funds in proportion to the tax collected from Tamil Nadu. It would also continue to oppose the revision of apportionment criteria fixed as the Census 2011 population,” Jayakumar said when asked about reduced devolution of Central funds.