‘Convene all-party meet on Cauvery’

CHENNAI: Charging the Central and Karnataka governments with trying to annul the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, and the BJP and Congress of betraying Tamil Nadu in view of the impending polls in Karnataka, PMK youth wing president Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday urged the State government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the future course of action to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s rights.

In a statement here, he said keeping an eye on the ensuing Assembly elections in the State, the Congress government in Karnataka had announced it would move the court seeking a directive to reduce the quantum of water to be given to TN by ignoring the tribunal’s final award. A Karnataka minister had said 193 tmcft of water could not be given as per final award and only around 100 to 102 tmcft could be given.

“Congress and BJP have no political stakes in TN. The BJP is desperate to come to power in Karnataka while Congress is desperate to cling on. So, the BJP has decided to betray TN on Cauvery issue. The Congress is also toeing the anti-TN line. The State government should concentrate on protecting its rights,” Anbumani said.