Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 30 (ANI): PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday criticised studies that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay could journey to Karnataka for talks on the Mekedatu dam mission, warning that any such go to can be ‘extremely detrimental’ to the state’s pursuits.
Speaking to reporters at Chennai International Airport earlier than leaving for Delhi, Ramadoss additionally challenged Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying the PMK was ready to stroll out of the NDA if Gandhi spoke out in opposition to the dam.
Ramadoss mentioned, ‘If the Chief Minister travels to Karnataka to carry talks on the Mekedatu dam problem, will probably be extremely detrimental to Tamil Nadu. We don’t settle for the Mekedatu dam mission, nor have we permitted it. Therefore, there is no such thing as a which means in holding discussions over a mission that has by no means been accepted. Instead, the discussions must be with the Union Government. The Centre have to be pressured to withdraw the Detailed Project Report and be certain that the Mekedatu dam is just not constructed,’ he mentioned.
He claimed that Karnataka has repeatedly refused to launch Cauvery water regardless of instructions from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.
‘There are presently 62 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic toes) of water saved in Karnataka’s reservoirs. Despite the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directing Karnataka twice to launch water, the state has refused, claiming there is no such thing as a water to launch. What is the purpose of holding talks with a authorities that refuses to launch water even after such instructions?’ he requested, including that Tamil Nadu may face ingesting water shortages if the dam have been constructed.
Ramadoss urged Vijay to convene an all-party assembly, framing the problem as one in regards to the total state moderately than any single get together.
‘Even earlier than setting up the Mekedatu dam, Karnataka is refusing to launch water. If the dam is constructed, Tamil Nadu could not even have adequate ingesting water. It can be a grave mistake for the Chief Minister to go to Karnataka. He ought to first convene an all-party assembly. This is just not a TVK problem; it is a matter in regards to the total state of Tamil Nadu. Karnataka is taking the matter in a distinct course. The Chief Minister should not fall into this entice. The BJP on the Centre and the Congress authorities in Karnataka are conspiring collectively on the Mekedatu problem. Neither Tamil Nadu nor its Chief Minister ought to develop into victims of this conspiracy, ‘ he mentioned.
He additional added, ‘This is the collective demand of farmers and the folks of Tamil Nadu. In the previous, struggles have been held to safe Cauvery water, to not negotiate over the development of the Mekedatu dam. If our stand is that the dam shouldn’t be constructed, what’s the objective of travelling to Karnataka for talks? The Chief Minister ought to keep away from taking this unsuitable strategy.’
He additionally referred to the Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary’s assertion within the Rajya Sabha, which he mentioned falsely claimed that the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment didn’t require Karnataka to acquire Tamil Nadu’s consent earlier than setting up a dam.
‘In response to my query within the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti falsely claimed that the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment nowhere states that Karnataka should acquire Tamil Nadu’s consent earlier than setting up a dam. This is condemnable. I’m discussing this matter with all MPs from Tamil Nadu in Delhi to make sure acceptable motion is taken,’ Ramadoss mentioned.
He argued that the Supreme Court said that the 1892 and 1924 agreements stay legitimate, and condemned teh Union Minister for his assertion.
‘The Supreme Court judgment clearly states that the 1892 and 1924 agreements haven’t been annulled and proceed to stay legitimate even after Independence. Under these agreements, if an upstream state proposes any building, it should acquire the consent of the downstream states. This is an internationally accepted precept governing rivers that circulation throughout international locations in addition to rivers shared between Indian states. The Cauvery Tribunal’s award and the Supreme Court’s judgment are primarily based on the identical precept. We strongly condemn the Union Minister for making false statements,’ he mentioned.
Ramadoss additionally attacked Congress, questioning whether or not Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore would press Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi to take a public stand in opposition to the dam forward of Gandhi’s scheduled go to to Chennai on August 1.
‘Chief Minister Vijay could take us to satisfy the Prime Minister, and we’re ready to strongly current Tamil Nadu’s case earlier than him. But does Manickam Tagore have the braveness to influence Rahul Gandhi to oppose the Mekedatu dam?,’ mentioned the PMK president.
‘Rahul Gandhi opposed the destruction of forests within the Andaman Islands. Will he now oppose the destruction of forests and three tiger reserves that may outcome from the Mekedatu mission? Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to go to Chennai on August 1. Will he declare that the Mekedatu dam shouldn’t be constructed as a result of it’s in opposition to the pursuits of Tamil Nadu, its forests, and its farmers? Does Manickam Tagore have the braveness to convey this to Rahul Gandhi?’ he mentioned.
He straight challenged Gandhi, saying, ‘Anyone could make speeches, but when Rahul Gandhi makes only one assertion saying that the Mekedatu dam shouldn’t be inbuilt Karnataka, we’re ready to withdraw from the NDA alliance.’
The problem comes amid renewed political exchanges between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir throughout the Cauvery River. Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar has maintained that the mission is inside the state’s rights and argued that it might profit Tamil Nadu as nicely.
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the proposed mission on July 28, urging the Centre to safeguard the pursuits of the decrease riparian states and be certain that any resolution on the mission is per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award and the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Cauvery water dispute.
In the letter, Vijay referred to the reply given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti within the Rajya Sabha to an unstarred query on the Mekedatu mission, which said that the Supreme Court’s judgment dated February 16, 2018, doesn’t expressly stipulate that Karnataka ought to acquire the consent of the decrease riparian states earlier than setting up a construction throughout the Cauvery River.
Separately, DMK president and former Chief Minister MK Stalin has introduced {that a} main protest can be held in Thanjavur on August 3, led by Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, alleging that the ruling TVK authorities had failed farmers on points together with farm mortgage waiver, the Mekedatu dam mission and the delayed opening of the Mettur Dam. (ANI)