Chennai, July 25:
Expressing shock over the proposed August 3 CM level talks in a bid to find an amicable solution to the Cauvery and Mekadatu dam issues, PMK President and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay not to hold talks with his Karnataka counterpart DK Shivakumar.
Reacting to Agriculture Minister R Vinoth’s remarks confirming the proposed CM level talks, he urged Vijay not to desist from meeting Shivakumar as it would weaken the TN’s stand.
Strongly criticising the TN’s move, Anbumani said the state government was “committing repeated mistakes” by agreeing to discuss the Mekedatu project, which Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed. He insisted that the government should not hold any form of talks with Karnataka on the issue.
Referring to reports that the Chief Minister may visit Karnataka on August 3 for a consultation meeting, Anbumani questioned the basis of the meeting and sought to know who had convened it. He said it remained unclear whether the meeting was called by the Union or the Karnataka government.
The PMK leader alleged that if the meeting was being attended based on an invitation from Karnataka authorities, it was “completely unacceptable” as it would be against Tamil Nadu’s interests. He reiterated that the state should never allow construction of the Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river and there was no need for holding talks.
“Cauvery water is Tamil Nadu’s right. It cannot be compromised under any circumstances,” he said, warning that any move to engage in talks could weaken the state’s long-standing legal and political position.
The PMK has been saying time and again that the construction of the Mekedatu Dam across the Cauvery is not an issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka….it is just a partial demand of the Karnataka government. We do not need to hold any talks with that state government on it, the former Union Minister said, adding, “if we hold talks with the Karnataka government, it will mean that we have accepted it as a bilateral issue. After that, not building the Mekedadu dam will not be the solution. Instead, the solution will be how much TMC the capacity of the Mekedadu dam should be? What are the procedures for releasing water from that dam to Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery? This is tantamount to handing over the rights of Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery to Karnataka.
Reiterating his strong opposition to the inclusion of a clause in the resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly regarding the Mekedadu Dam to set up a new Tribunal to resolve the issue, Anbumani said if it happended it will cause a setback to Tamil Nadu. But Chief Minister’s talks with the Karnataka government on the issue will cause an even worse setback.
The Tamil Nadu government should not take any decision arbitrarily on controversial issues like Mekedadu. It should decide its position only after consulting with farmers’ organizations, political parties, etc. While the PMK has been insisting for several weeks that an all-party meeting be convened to discuss the Mekedadu issue, the government’s arbitrarily deciding to talk to the Karnataka government was not acceptable.
“Therefore, I urge Chief Minister Vijay to drop his decision to go to Karnataka to hold talks on the issue. Instead, he should come forward to stop the conspiracy to build the Mekedadu Dam through legal struggles”, he added.