Bring Karnataka CM for Reciprocal Visit to Delta Districts: Farmers Body Tells CM Vijay
"Farmers have been continuously insisting that the rights legally fought and obtained should not be given away in the name of bilateral talks," Pandian said.
Tamil Nadu: The Cauvery Farmers' Association has insisted that Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar undertake a reciprocal visit to the affected paddy areas in the Cauvery delta districts of Tamil Nadu if Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay goes ahead with his bilateral talks plan.
Claiming that the Karnataka CM was arranging for an aerial survey of his state's dams during Vijay's visit on August 3, the Cauvery Farmers' Association General Secretary P R Pandian said that Shivakumar should be brought to TN for a reciprocal visit to survey the delta districts.
"This will enable the Karnataka Chief Minister to personally see the real-time damage to the withered Kuruvai paddy crop," Pandian told reporters here on Thursday.
Expressing the farmers' opposition to Vijay's visit, he said political dialogues should not be used as a backdoor entry for the neighbouring state to construct a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River at Mekedatu, which would affect the agricultural prospects of Tamil Nadu.
"Farmers have been continuously insisting that the rights legally fought and obtained should not be given away in the name of bilateral talks," Pandian said.
