Cauvery row: AIADMK to stage protest in delta districts 6 Oct

AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) has declared to stage a protest in the delta districts of Tamilnadu on October 6, intensifying its campaign against the ruling DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) government. The protest is primarily aimed at addressing the longstanding Cauvery Water dispute and voicing grievances related to agricultural issues in the state. AIADMK leader of opposition, Edappadi K Palaniswami, issued a statement outlining the objectives of the protest. He expressed strong condemnation for the DMK government’s alleged failure to secure Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery Water from Karnataka. This dispute has long been a point of contention between the two southern states. One of the key issues raised by Palaniswami was the omission of Kuruvai crops by the DMK government, which has been perceived as a betrayal to the farming community. Palaniswami also criticized the Karnataka government for not adhering to the Supreme Court’s directives regarding the release of Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu. Additionally, the AIADMK is demanding compensation of Rs 35,000 per acre of damaged crops, emphasizing the economic hardships faced by the state’s farmers. The protest will be organized with senior party leaders taking the helm in various delta districts, including Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, and Cuddalore. Palaniswami has urged party functionaries, district secretaries, MPs, and MLAs from the region to actively participate. He has also called upon the farming community and the general public to join in, highlighting the widespread concern over these issues. Taking a dig at Chief Minister M K Stalin, Palaniswami referred to him as the “Deltakaran” or native of Tiruvarur but pointed out that farmers have been grappling with numerous challenges during his tenure.