Centre will strive for amicable solution on sharing Cauvery water: Pon Radhakrishnan

Chennai: Contending that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen on an early solution to the Cauvery issue, Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan exuded hope that Centre would strive towards an amicable solution on sharing river water.

The minister favours an all-political party meeting in Tamil Nadu to decide on the next course of action on the Cauvery crisis, especially with the neighbouring state precipitating matters. He said the Siddharamaiah government in Karnataka, while honouring the Supreme Court verdict, should also take into account the condition of the Cauvery delta farmers.

He taunted the new TNCC chief Su. Thirunavukkarasar saying he should ‘advise’ his party leaders in Karnataka on “the plight of Tamil Nadu farmers,” who are dependent on the Cauvery water for agricultural activities. “I hope Thirunavukkarasar will take steps to convince his party leaders in Karnataka,” Mr. Radhakrishnan added. The minister claimed that the state government was taking appropriate measures to get the Cauvery water.

Denying the opposition charge that Mr. Modi seemed to favour Tamil Nadu, a BJP senior remarked, “None of the states will be deceived. Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will get their respective share of water.” “Karnataka should not allow violence to build up against Tamil Nadu. This will not solve the problem. Moreover, as the onus is upon Karnataka to implement the Supreme Court order, the Centre has to only wait and watch,” he added.

Accusing Mr. Siddharamaiah of playing politics over the Cauvery dispute, BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan claimed that the Karnataka Chief Minister gave the impression that Mr. Modi was reluctant to convene a meeting of the chief ministers of the riparian states to resolve the dispute.