Chennai: DMK chief M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday said the demands made by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi are the same she did in 2014, soon after Modi assumed power and said the memorandum only showed that the demands had not been met for the last two years.
In a statement here, Karunanidhi said the State government should not stop with making requests to the Prime Minister and follow the demands through meeting the ministers concerned.
Pressure should be mounted through political and bureaucratic channels to implement the demands, but the Chief Minister is giving the same set of demands again and again.
Even in 2014, the first demand placed by the Chief Minister was formation of Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. The demand to stop the construction of a dam at Megedatu was given to the Prime Minister last year. The demands on Avinashi-Athikadavu project, protection of traditional fishing rights of fishermen, commissioning of Cheyyur thermal plant, release of balance funds, modernisation of police force, commencement of second phase of metro rail project and lifting of jallikattu ban had been already, the DMK leader said.
Karunanidhi skips MLAs meeting
DMK chief M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday did not attend the party MLAs meeting presided over by party treasurer M.K. Stalin. The meeting did not begin at the scheduled time of 5 pm as the MLAs waited for Karunanidhi's arrival. As Karunanidhi did not turn up, the MLAs meeting was held without the party leader's presence. The party had announced that MLAs meeting would be presided over by Karunanidhi.
Speaking to reporters after the MLAs meeting, Stalin said the issues to be raised by the party and the stand it should take on various matters were discussed in the meeting. The new MLAs were instructed on the rules and tradition of the House. He also said Karunanidhi would attend the House if facilities for his seating was provided in the Assembly.
