CHENNAI: Taking exception to BJP state president Tamilisai Soundarrajan’s criticism of the general strike, DMK principal secretary K. Duraimurugan said her party’s plans of gaining a foothold in the state would end up as daydream if she thinks that they could be achieved without doing anything for farmers and even after trampling their sentiments.
“If she thinks BJP can gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu by issuing statements and not doing anything for farmers welfare or not even meeting the protesting farmers, her calculations will end up as a day dream”, he said. Reacting to Tamilisai’s remarks on the bandh, he said Tamilisai should insist Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up the Cauvery Management Board, if the Centre is really concerned about Tamil Nadu farmers as she claimed.
Recalling that it was the BJP government at the Centre which opposed the Supreme Court direction to set up the Cauvery Management Board, Duraimurugan said Tamilisai should arrange for a meeting of state farmers with the Prime Minister and request him to waive the farmers loans. He also asked why she was unable to get drought relief for Tamil Nadu from the centre.
She should at least meet petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and stop the hydrocarbon project in Neduvasal. Tamilisai should also take action to get the President’s nod for the state government’s bill against conducting Neet. The DMK senior leader said she is unable to accept the truth that the bandh was a 100 per cent success. She was criticizing the DMK only to protect her leadership post amidst the tough tussle in the party for it, Duraimurugan opined.
Duraimurugan said it was the DMK which insisted former Prime Minister V.P, Singh to set up the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. But, the BJP government which initially accepted the Supreme Court verdict to form the CMB, suddenly went back on its assurance and prevented the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, he pointed out. After committing an unforgivable betrayal to Tamil Nadu farmers, how could she accuse the DMK of betraying the farmers, he asked. Tamilisai did not oppose the Centre’s action supporting Karnataka, due her thinking that BJP will get political gains in Karnataka by such a move, Duraimurugan alleged.
