Thanjavur, July 18:
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tamil Nadu unit will hold a public meeting followed by a protest rally in Thanjavur on August 1 against the proposed Mekedatu dam project in Karnataka, party general secretary Karuppu M. Muruganandam announced on Friday.
Addressing reporters, Muruganandam alleged that the Karnataka government was pressing ahead with the project despite concerns over its impact on Tamil Nadu’s water resources. He said Delta farmers had already suffered crop losses this kuruvai season due to water scarcity and warned of a potential drinking water crisis.
Stating that the proposed dam could aggravate the situation, he criticised the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government for maintaining what he termed as an “unusual silence,” attributing it to its alliance with the Congress.
Muruganandam said the protest aims to press the State government to take a firm stand against Karnataka to safeguard the interests of Delta farmers and the public. BJP cadres, farmers, and members of various sections are expected to participate in large numbers, he added.
He also urged the State government to declare the Delta region drought-hit and seek adequate financial assistance from the Centre.
Meanwhile, he criticised Minister R. Nirmal Kumar for attacking the BJP, alleging that the minister was attempting to build an image around his past association with the party. Muruganandam further described Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s recent speech in Karur as a “movie script” aimed at attracting fans, and took a swipe at TVK functionaries for focusing on social media reels.