TN will oppose any further delay in CMB: Minister Jayakumar

Jayakumar’s assertion came in reply to query as to what the state would be able to do when the Centre was keen on delaying the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). “The state would vehemently oppose any plea by the Centre seeking more time to implement the Supreme Court’s final verdict on Cauvery,” said Jayakumar. 

Observing that the apex court had refused to take up the urgent hearing of the Centre’s interim petition seeking more time, the minister said the state would advance its arguments against the Centre, if it makes any such plea seeking more time. Regarding the failure of the Edappadi government in securing the Prime Minister’s time for the all-party delegation, the minister maintained that the dispute remained as an inter-state issue whereas the Centre was bound to comply with the orders of the SC. 

“We have been exerting pressure both politically and as well as through the government side. We have also written in detail to the Centre for the formation of the CMB and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) as provided for in the verdict,” he said.

“The arguments advanced by the present regime have only reaffirmed the riparian rights of the state over Cauvery in the final verdict. Therefore, the Supreme Court would force the hand of the Centre to constitute the CMB and the CWRC and uphold the rights of the state,” Jayakumar said.

When asked if he was the minister from the locality who allegedly propped up women with Rs 20 notes as claimed by RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran, Jayakumar maintained that all ministers from the state are from the region. He urged the recently elected legislator to pay up his promised ‘dues’ to the electorate.

“No one should exploit the ignorance and poverty of the electorate as TTV did during the RK Nagar by-election. He promised to pay Rs 10,000 per vote. I don’t subscribe to bribing of voters, but I request TTV to disburse the promised sum which would roughly work out to Rs 500 crore. The sum is nothing for him as he has amassed much wealth,” Jayakumar said. 

He also downplayed the decision of V K Sasikala’s brother Dhivakaran reviving the AIADMK (Amma) faction as the outfit was in vogue since the division emerged and was only a continuation.