Can’t expect CMB from Centre: Kanimozhi

Kanimozhi led the human chain protest against the BJP and the AIADMK on Cauvery issue outside party headquarters Anna Arivalayam in the city. She told reporters that there are chances of the Centre not constituting the CMB even after Karnataka Assembly elections. When reporters sought to know what if Prime Minister Narendra Modi forms the board after the neighbouring state polls, the DMK MP asserted, “They (Centre) will seek clarifications till the Karnataka elections get over. Centre is using the Tamils as pawns for the election. After that, it will be the Parliamentary polls. So, there are chances that they would not constitute the CMB even then. We cannot say after which election this would stop.” 

On the possibility of the Centre presenting a ‘scheme’ agreeable to Tamil Nadu on May 3, she remarked, “It will happen only if the government at the Centre were impartial and neutral, but it is not so,” before adding that only if the state gets rid of the anti-people and anti-Tamil Nadu regime of the AIADMK, which is only concerned about forging an alliance with the BJP, some good would happen to the state and its people. 

Kanimozhi, who is also the women’s wing secretary of the DMK, remarked that in not constituting the CMB despite the Supreme Court order they have taken a stand not only against the apex court but also Tamil Nadu. “The government would change at the Centre and state. DMK will get the CMB constituted as the ruling party of the state,” she said, asking the Centre to constitute it at least after beholding the protest of the Opposition. 

Meanwhile, in Thanjavur, MDMK general secretary Vaiko who led the Opposition protest said that the Centre would come forward to constitute the CMB only when the Central government offices in the state are paralysed by strong agitations. 

“If the CMB was constituted, the Karnataka government could not build new dams across the Cauvery and hence the BJP led Union government has not been coming forth to constitute the body,” Vaiko charged. 

Moreover, 19 cadre of Tamizhaga Makkal Jananayaga Katchi were arrested for attempting to picket the Air Force station in Thanjavur in protest against the Centre.