Water Resources Ministry's "Cauvery issue" meeting is "eye-wash": DMK's Stalin
What's the story
Tamil Nadu's main opposition party DMK described as an "eye-wash" a meeting convened by Union Water Resources Ministry with stakeholder states on Cauvery issue yesterday.
DMK Working President and Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly MK Stalin wrote to Chief Minister K Palaniswami urging that a special session should be held before the budget session scheduled to start next week.
Here's more.
Details
Step-motherly attitude shown by the Centre: Stalin
Stalin called for a special session of TN Assembly to discuss the Cauvery water dispute, especially in light of "step-motherly attitude by the Centre" shown towards the state on the inter-state dispute involving poll-bound Karnataka.
In his letter, Stalin recalled he placed the same demand with Palaniswami during a meeting between them in March in order to reiterate Tamil Nadu's stand on Cauvery.
Information
Tamil Nadu wants Cauvery Management Board to be constituted
Tamil Nadu wanted the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) as directed by the Supreme Court, which had recently pronounced its verdict on the inter-state dispute involving Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry.
Meeting
CM Palaniswami to lead a delegation to meet PM Modi
On 22 February, an all-party meet chaired by Palaniswami decided that the CM will lead a delegation of leaders of all parties, farmers, and MPs from Tamil Nadu to meet PM Narendra Modi on Cauvery issue.
It resolved to urge Modi to immediately set up the CMB and Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority as per SC's order to set up the bodies within six weeks.
The letter
Centre has insulted overall sentiments of Tamil Nadu: Stalin
"The Central government has insulted the overall sentiments of Tamil Nadu on this very important issue. The government not willing to meet all-party leaders from Tamil Nadu is against democratic ethos," Stalin wrote in the letter to CM Palaniswami.
He also pointed out that three weeks have passed since the Supreme Court verdict, but the Centre "has not come forward to constitute CMB".
Quote
What else did Stalin write in the letter?
Stalin stated while PM Modi was yet to meet the proposed all-party delegation, the panel has been asked to meet Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari first, alleging, "Only an officials-level meeting, an eye-wash drama done with electoral motives, has been conducted by the Centre."
The Remarks
DMK leader asks whether TN officials opposed UP Singh's remarks
Stalin also wanted to know if the TN government officials present at yesterday's meeting in New Delhi had "opposed' Water Resources Ministry Secretary UP Singh's remarks that the apex court had in its order not used the words Cauvery Management Board.
The Ministry had held the meeting on Friday in New Delhi with officials from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry.
Special Session
Special session should be convened ahead of budget session: Stalin
Stalin said, "With Centre not constituting the CMB and holding eye-wash like consultation with an eye on Karnataka polls, exerting further pressure on it over CMB without further delay becomes more imperative."
"Therefore, I, on behalf of Principal Opposition party DMK, urge you to convene a special session of the Assembly to (discuss) the livelihood of farmers and people's drinking water supply," he wrote.