Chennai: Accusing the AIADMK of not raising its voice in Parliament for the rights of Tamil Nadu, the working committee of state Congress on Saturday hit out at the ruling party on the prevalent drought situation leading to the death of over hundred farmers.
The Congress also flayed the central government for opposing the formation of Cauvery Management Board and not taking steps for holding jallikattu, besides condemning it for the demonetisation of high value currencies.
Amid allegations of tilting towards the AIADMK, the Congress made it clear that it stands firm with the DMK by coming out with resolutions condemning the AIADMK government. Although, some of the participants said the alliance for the local body elections was discussed, no resolution on alliance strategy was passed in the meeting. But, one of the participants said the members wanted the leadership to be firm in negotiations for the local body polls.
The Congress accused the state government of trying to conceal the deaths of farmers due to drought and said the FIR for the deaths are mentioning illness as the reason for the deaths to prevent the farmers from getting compensation. The state government should declare Tamil Nadu as drought hit to get the necessary relief funds from centre to provide compensation for the affected farmers and their families, a resolution urged.
Coming down on the centre's U-turn in the Cauvery case in the Supreme Court, the Congress said the Union government which initially accepted the court verdict to form the CMB later shifted its stand and argued that Parliament alone had the powers to form the Cauvery Management Board, a resolution noted and demanded the formation of CMB and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee as per the judgment of Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
When the Supreme Court banned jallikattu in 2014, the BJP government exempted bulls instead of removing it altogether.
The notification was issued without the consent of the Union Cabinet and the Animal Welfare Board and it was stayed by the court. An ordinance to amend the Cruelty Against Animals Act, 1960 should be issued to hold jallikattu, but the BJP government's notification is an act of eyewash, the Congress said.
Hitting out at demonetisation of high value currencies, the working committee said the Prime Minister did not know how much time is required to print the 2,700 crore pieces of which were declared invalid. The objective of eradicating black money too had failed since 14.97 lakh crores of the 15.44 lakh crores had been deposited in the banks, it added.
