CHENNAI: Ruling AIADMK and DMK on Thursday traded barbs against each other on who safeguarded the interests of Tamil Nadu while dealing with Karnataka and Kerala on getting the state’s share of water from Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar rivers.
It all started when DMK MLA P T R Thyagarajan, who represents Madurai Central in the Assembly, said during the course of his speech that Tamil Nadu should not surrender its interests when it comes to dealing with neighbouring states on sharing of waters.
Intervening in the debate, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said it was late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who took every effort during her tenure to ensure that the state’s rights are not compromised with.
“It is Amma who first filed a case in Supreme Court on Cauvery issue and it is Amma who ensured that the award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was notified in the gazette and it is she who made sure that the height of Mullaiperiyar Dam is increased to 142 ft from 136 ft,” Panneerselvam said.
He also accused the DMK of “doing nothing” to protect the interests of the state. At this, DMK deputy floor leader Durai Murugan rose from his chair and countered Pannerselvam’s statement.
“It may be Jayalalithaa who went to the court, but it was our leader Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) who made sure that the case was listed in the Supreme Court. And more so, it was the DMK, which took every step to get the CWDT award notified in the gazette. Unfortunately, we lost power and it was notified when Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister,” Durai Murugan said.
Intervening yet again, Panneerselvam maintained that it was the AIADMK and Jayalalithaa who took steps to ensure that Tamil Nadu got its fair share of water from Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar rivers.
