Who will bring Cauvery water to TN? BJP, AIADMK face off

Union Minister of State Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan asserted that their party would resolve the Cauvery dispute finally and bring water to Tamil Nadu. 

Radhakrishnan said he expected the Centre to submit the draft scheme for implementing the Supreme Court order on the Cauvery dispute. “Whatever steps the Centre takes, it will be for the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka government is using many tactics to deny Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Though the Centre takes time, the BJP government will provide a lasting solution to the dispute.”

The DMK had announced black flag agitations against the Prime Minister only to suppress the betrayal of the DMK on the Cauvery dispute, he alleged. Black flags should be shown only against the DMK leadership, he added. 

Tamilisai Soundrararajan too claimed that the BJP would solve the Cauvery problem and bring water to Tamil Nadu. The Congress and DMK had failed to bring Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for several decades, but the BJP would be the party to bring water to Tamil Nadu. The opposition parties in the state would not solve the dispute, she asserted.

However, deputy leader of the Rajya Sabha M Thambidurai slammed the BJP for the claim and said only the Supreme Court could end the woes of Tamil Nadu and ensure water release to the state. The issue is in the Supreme Court since the BJP governments for two terms did not solve the problem.

“What was the BJP doing for so many years despite coming to power for two terms. It was Amma (former CM J Jayalalithaa) who waged a legal battle for decades to get Cauvery rights for Tamil Nadu. The Cauvery rights will be won by the AIADMK through continuing the legal battle,” he said.