No let-up: Stalin plans rally on April 7, 9

Addressing reporters, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) said, “The members from various political parties will hold ‘Cauvery Rights Retrieval Yatra’ in two places. While a team will conduct a yatra from Mukkombu on April 7, another team will leave from Ariyalur on April 9. Moreover, a massive protest will be held against the Supreme Court verdict that weakened the existing Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) in Chennai on April 16.” 

To a question, he exuded confidence over formation of the CMB. “We are staging a series of protests to draw attention of the Centre over the issue. Even after these protests, if the state and Centre attempt to keep delaying in forming the Board, we will sit and hold another round of talks for further course of action,” the DMK leader said. 

On the government filing cases against him for conducting agitations, Stalin stressed that he will face any kind of legal hassle for Cauvery issue. “Let them file any case against me and party cadres and we will face it legally. Even we will happily accept the punishments for the cause of Cauvery.” 

When asked whether attention of Cauvery issue was diverted to IPL cricket match, he said, “As far as DMK is concerned, it is not our intention to stop IPL matches. However, officials, who made arrangement for conducting IPL cricket matches should sense people’s mood and they should take decision in accordance with the present situation.”

Earlier, the all-party meeting adopted a couple resolutions, which thanked the political parties for staging protests in a democratic way. “The Centre should withdraw the clarification petition over Cauvery row,” said a resolution. Since April 1, the political parties have been staging agitations to condemn the state and Centre for having remained silence over setting up of formation and all the demonstrations were held in a peaceful manner,” stated another resolution. 

During the meeting, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Su Thirunavukkarasar, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan, CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan, VCK Chief Thol Thirumavalavan, Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader MH Jawahirullah and others were present.