Chennai: Fisheries minister D. Jayakumar has slammed DMK chief M K Stalin for mocking Chief Minister K. Palaniswami's Delhi visit. Stating that Stalin was diverting the attention of the people Jayakumar, senior AIADMK leader, said Palaniswami in his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi few days ago, had urged for a direction to Karnataka to not take up any construction activities in the Cauvery basin without the prior consent of Tamil Nadu.
Jayakuma said in a memorandum submitted by Palaniswami to Modi on June 15, the Chief Minister had batted for linkage of Godavari and Cauvery rivers to bring water to Tamil Nadu and rejuvenation of the Cauvery river on the lines of "Namami Gangae" plan. On Sunday Stalin had alleged that Palaniswami pledged Tamil Nadu's rights in Delhi and returned empty handed to the State. Listing out various issues, including the Mekedatu dam row, the DMK chief had said the Chief Minister missed the opportunity to resolve such issues and people would not forgive him for that.
Stating that "Stalin's statement is condemnable," Jayakumar said, it was aimed at diverting people's attention from the Chief Minister's efforts aimed at welfare of the people, notably the poor and backward districts of Tamil Nadu. Jayakumar noted that following Chief Minister's address in NITI Aayog meet, his memorandum to the Prime Minister and meeting with Central Ministers, the Centre has assured expeditious consideration of State's proposals.
Palaniswami had called on Modi at his residence in the Delhi and discussed state specific projects. While Stalin had dubbed the CM's memorandum submitted to Modi as "old wine in a new bottle," repeated over the past three years with "cuts and pastes,"
Reacting to this Jayakumar said Stalin does not have the locus standi to talk about Palaniswami.
