Leader of Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Monday strongly condemned Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti V Somanna’s remarks regarding the Mekedatu dam row. Palaniswami criticized the BJP-led Union government for appointing an MP from Karnataka to a pivotal water resource management position, accusing it of betraying Tamil Nadu’s interests.“On behalf of the AIADMK, I strongly condemn the continuous hypocrisy of the Central and state governments over the Cauvery and Mekedatu dam issues. It is unacceptable that the DMK government and its ally, the Congress government in Karnataka, have been betraying the people of Tamil Nadu and its farmers. Now, the BJP-led NDA government has also joined hands with them,” EPS said.
Palaniswami emphasized that the Centre should maintain neutrality in resolving the Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. However, he argued that appointing V Somanna, an MP from Karnataka, as Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti represents a significant betrayal to the people of Tamil Nadu. He highlighted Somanna’s comments suggesting that negotiations are necessary for the Mekedatu issue, despite the matter being sub judice.
“Though the case over the Mekedatu dam project is pending before the Supreme Court, the newly appointed Union Minister, who should be unbiased, told reporters that there should be negotiations on the issue,” EPS said. He expressed concern that such statements have caused great unrest among the farmers in the Delta region, who rely heavily on the Cauvery water for irrigation.
Palaniswami also criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for his silence on the matter. “Chief Minister Stalin’s silence over the development and the Minister’s remark is unacceptable and strongly condemnable,” he added.
The Mekedatu project has been a contentious issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with the former opposing it on the grounds that it would disrupt the flow of the Cauvery River and adversely affect the farmers in Tamil Nadu. The appointment of a Karnataka MP to oversee water resources has further intensified the controversy.