Chennai: Political leaders on Wednesday came out with slightly varied views on the negotiations to be held between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the Cauvery dispute with most of them apprehensive over the outcome.
DMK chief M. Karunanidhi opposed the participation of Union water resources minister Uma Bharti citing her earlier statements supporting Karnataka in the Cauvery row. He said the minister had openly expressed support to Karnataka’s plans to build dams at Sivasamudram and Mekedatu.
Uma Bharti had also opined that Karnataka had been wronged in sharing of Cauvery water for 200 years. The DMK leader wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to preside over the meeting to find an amicable solution.
He said the Supreme Court had not sought an explanation from Karnataka for not complying with its order and creating a constitutional crisis. The existing storage of water in Mettur dam would last only for another 40 days, but water is required till the end of January, he pointed out. If water is not released, farmers would face several crores of loss, he added.
However, leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin expressed happiness over the talks and faulted the state government for not holding negotiations with Karnataka earlier.
The AIADMK government’s adamant attitude of not to go for talks had turned the dispute into a Himalayan problem.
PMK founder S. Ramadoss said the Supreme Court had given a last chance for talks and added that such talks with Karnataka had always failed.
“Tamil Nadu should not worry about the outcome of the talks and insist on its rights over the Cauvery with proper evidences. It should not accept any decision which would compromise Tamil Nadu’s rights”, he said.
Echoing the views of Ramadoss, MDMK general secretary Vaiko also said no solution was found in any of the talks held with Karnataka since 1974 and all solutions had been found through legal means. “Negotiations are deceptive as they will cause harm to Tamil Nadu. It is a trap to deny the rights of Tamil Nadu”, he added.
