When parties stood united for Cauvery

Leaders of the ruling Congress, its ally DMK, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Left parties and other like-minded parties and thousands of cadre organised a human chain agitation on Monday to press the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.

Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, who gave the call for the human chain, visited the starting point at Anna square and walked till Mahatma Gandhi Road and Mission Street. He also stopped at various points and interacted with leaders of various political parties. Ministers A. Namassivayam, Malladi Krishna Rao, M. Kandasamy and M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, DMK MLA R. Siva, former MLA S.P. Sivakumar and leaders of VCK, CPI and CPI (M) participated.

Mr. Narayanasamy who participated in the human chain agitation on Anna Salai urged the Centre to expedite the formation of the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee as directed by the Supreme Court. “The Centre should not drag its feet on implementing the apex court verdict on forming the CMB. As far as Puducherry is concerned, Karaikal region, an enclave of the Union Territory is entitled to 7 tmc feet of Cauvery water from Tamil Nadu,” he said.

‘Centre turning deaf ear’

The Chief Minister said that the Congress and its alliance partners had already conducted hunger fast, bandh and other modes of agitations to urge the Centre to expedite the formation of CMB. However, the Centre had turned a deaf ear to all the peaceful protests by people of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. He called it a step in the wrong direction.

Mr. Narayanasamy hoped that the sustained agitation including the human chain protest would bear fruit and the CMB and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee would come into existence at the earliest.