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DMK defers further action on Cauvery row till May 14

SC directive casts shadow on all-party meeting.

Chennai: The DMK-led opposition in Tamil Nadu appeared to have accepted the ‘Cauvery reality’ in deciding at their all-party meeting to defer the decision on further course of action till May 14.

The decision was announced by DMK working president M. K. Stalin on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting held at his party state headquarters – Anna Arivalayam - here, Mr Stalin said the May 14 deadline for the Centre to constitute the Cauvery scheme was obviously set taking into consideration the Centre’s petition before the Supreme Court, seeking more time in view of the Karnataka Assembly election (on May 12), as the Centre feared law and order situation in the poll-bound State if the ‘scheme,’ which it claimed was all ready but for the Cabinet approval, was announced now.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court directed the secretary of the Union water resources ministry to personally appear before it on May 14 with a draft of the Cauvery management scheme for implementation of its verdict on water sharing between four states including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Expressing shock over the Supreme Court granting additional time till May 14 for the Centre to submit the draft scheme, Mr Stalin said by granting time on every occasion to the Centre, the belief of farmers and the people of Tamil Nadu that they would get justice in the Apex Court has come down to a great extent.
Expressing that such incidents would not help in “fostering democracy” in the country, the DMK leader flayed the Centre for seeking more time citing the Karnataka Assembly election.

“It is regrettable that people of the State are left in the lurch by the apex court in delaying deliverance of justice,” he said. Pointing out that justice delayed was justice denied, he said since the Supreme Court itself has granted more time to the Centre to implement its own order for electoral politics, people of the state did not know where to go and seek justice.

“By granting more time, the apex court has contradicted its own stand,” he said. He hoped that at least on May 14 the apex court would provide solace to the farmers and to 120 crore people of the country.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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