Vaiko condemns PM views on sharing water with Pakistan

Addressing reporters at the Coimbatore International Airport on Saturday, Vaiko said that the PM’s views would set a bad example for inter-State sharing of river water. He pointed out that recently Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal also made a statement refusing to share water with Haryana, against their agreement and direction of the Supreme Court. 

Calling Badal his close associate, personally and politically, Vaiko however said that Punjab’s decision will badly  affect Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. “This would set a bad example for other states as they will try to follow such practices,” he said and recalled that Tamil Nadu is already affected by problems created by Kerala and Karnataka over sharing water with the state. He expressed concern that Tamil Nadu would become the Ethiopia of this region if the neighbouring states followed Punjab’s stand. 

Earlier, he told reporters that his party strongly supports the PM for the way he has handled the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes. Stating that the initiative is widely debated and criticised by newspapers and television channels while political parties are also disturbing the parliament and organizing protests everywhere, he said that his party is supporting the PM for this initiative.