Since the start of the winter session of Parliament, the AIADMK has been stalling proceedings objecting to the Mekedatu issue and the Dam Safety Bill. Opposition parties such as the Trinamool Congress have accused the AIADMK of conspiring with the BJP to disrupt the House to prevent meaningful business. However, in a telephonic interview with The Hindu, AIADMK Parliamentary party leader P. Venugopal denies the charge. He says parties are free to say what they want, but the AIADMK is committed to issues dear to Tamil Nadu. Excerpts:
The Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a special resolution against the nod granted to Karnataka for a Detailed Project Report for the dam project in Mekedatu. You have been stalling Parliament over this for the past few days. Has it yielded dividends?
We have been opposing it from day one. The Centre must direct the Central Water Commission to withdraw the permission granted to the dam project at Mekedatu. The permission goes against the Supreme Court judgment and the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. We will continue to oppose it. The DMK must urge the Congress leadership to advise the State government in Karnataka not to go ahead with the project.
The Assembly also passed a resolution opposing the Dam Safety Bill. But, the Union Water Resources Minister has introduced it in the Lok Sabha...
I raised the issue even before the session commenced this time and urged the Speaker against taking up the Bill. The last time the Central government under then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh brought the Bill in the House, we opposed it and then it lapsed. We will continue to oppose the Bill.
In March, the AIADMK stalled Parliament proceedings for several days over the Cauvery water sharing scheme. Are you planning a similar move now?
Only because we had justice on our side did the Supreme Court give a judgment in our favour on the Cauvery water issue. Likewise, in the Mekedatu issue, the permission granted is against the Supreme Court judgment and the final order of the Cauvery Tribunal. We have been raising the issue daily and you know we are trying our best.
Is the AIADMK willing for an all-party MP delegation from Tamil Nadu, including the DMK and the PMK meeting the PM over Mekedatu and the Dam Safety Bill?
I lead the party in the House as per the instructions given by our leadership. Whatever the leadership decides, we will follow. But, is the PMK MP [Anbumani Ramadoss] coming to the House at all?
The Trinamool Congress has alleged that the AIADMK in the guise of protesting over Mekedatu is helping the BJP?
Every party will have some stand and can say anything they want to say against any other party. Let them say.
Tamil Nadu had sought revision of Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 15th Finance Commission, but the BJP said the issue has been settled. What’s your stand?
I tried to raise the issue several times in Parliament. The present ToR of the 15th Finance Commission are against the interests of Tamil Nadu. We controlled our population growth through family planning measures, but this ToR is punishing Tamil Nadu for controlling the population. We will not accept the ToR.
Is the AIADMK still keen on opposing the National Medical Commission Bill and the Triple Talaq Bill?
Our member A. Anwhar Raajhaa spoke against the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament. As for the National Medical Commission Bill, we have our concerns. There are several medical institutions in our State and our concerns have to be heard.