CM Vijay must convene all-party meeting on Cauvery row, meet PM Modi: DMDK

Dharmapuri, Aug 2 (AHN) DMDK General Secretary and MLA Premalatha Vijayakanth has urged the Tamil Nadu government to convene an all-party meeting on the Cauvery water dispute and lead a delegation to meet the Prime Minister, saying both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka must work together to ensure equitable water sharing without harming either state.

In an interaction with AHN in Dharmapuri, she also spoke on river linking, power shortages, agriculture, water conservation, and governance.

Premalatha Vijayakanth, on the Cauvery water issue, said that the DMDK has come out in support of the people of Tamil Nadu and farmers, adding that the Kuruvai crop has been completed and samba cultivation has begun.

“We have not betrayed Karnataka in raising this issue. Protests are taking place there as well. Water should be supplied in a way that does not affect either state. This is not an India-Pakistan issue,” the MLA said.

On what the government should do to address the recurring water disputes, she said floodwaters are flowing away in the northern states.

“We have long demanded the linking of rivers. The Chief Minister Joseph Vijay should convene an all-party meeting and meet the Prime Minister to press for this project,” she said.

On her expectations from the upcoming Assembly session, Premalatha explained that the budget session begins on the 5th.

She added that while the government claims ganja has been brought under control in Chennai, there are still questions over whether TASMAC outlets have actually been reduced or closed.

On her message to the Chief Minister Vijay on resolving the Cauvery dispute, Premalatha Vijayakanth pointed out that even after repeatedly approaching the courts, there has been no permanent solution.

“That is why we say the Chief Minister Vijay should personally visit Karnataka and hold talks. If leaders can visit temples for personal reasons, why can't they meet their counterparts for the welfare of the people?” she said.

She also pointed out that Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar should also come to Tamil Nadu, adding that the state government is ready to provide security to welcome him.

Premalatha further said Chief Minister Vijay regularly inspects Chennai, but he should also visit the Cauvery basin, including Hogenakkal and Mettur, and understand the problems faced by people there.

“Governance should not be limited to the metro and law-and-order issues alone,” she said.

On concerns regarding the power sector, Premalatha said Tamil Nadu was once an energy-surplus state, but power cuts have increased.

“People are protesting because of frequent outages. Electricity tariffs have also gone up. The government should eliminate power cuts and reduce electricity charges,” she said.

Premalatha Vijayakanth further said just as Tamil Nadu once became power-surplus, it should now become a water-surplus state.

“We must conserve available water resources so that the state becomes self-sufficient in both water and food production,” she said.

On whether she will raise the issue concerning journalists in the Assembly, she added that yes, journalists from Dharmapuri district have requested that Chief Minister Vijay meet the press.

“I will raise this demand in the Assembly,” she said.

Premalatha said if the Agriculture Department chooses to present its budget in Tirupati believing that Lord Venkateswara's blessings alone will ensure agricultural prosperity, then the government should also focus on practical measures that genuinely improve the condition of farmers and agriculture.