Farmers to shift protest to Chennai

Mannargudi: Members of the coordination committee of farmers’ associations are going to organise a demonstration, with the support of leaders of all political parties, to urge the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to stop Karnataka’s move to construct new reservoirs across the river Cauvery at Mekedatu and Rasimanal, in front of Shastri Bhavan in Chennai next month.

The committee’s Tiruvarur district president P.R. Pandiyan told mediapersons at Mannargudi on Saturday that some members of the committee under his leadership commenced an indefinite fast in front of Parliament at New Delhi recently, to draw the Union government’s attention to the issue. Following the assurance given by Union minister Pon. Radhakrishnan that he would take the issue to the knowledge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they wound up their indefinite fast on the third day.

Despite this, Karnataka was insistent on its move and even yesterday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah had announced that as per schedule, they would construct new reservoirs across the Cauvery.He said it was high time Tamilians, the Tamil Nadu government and political parties of the state put up a united and effective struggle to draw the Union government’s attention to the issue to protect the rights of Tamil Nadu over Cauvery water.

He said in the first phase of agitation, committee members, with the active participation of various political party leaders, will stage a demonstration in Chennai. A delegation of the committee is leaving for Chennai Sunday to meet leaders of parties and mobilise their support for the proposed agitation. They will also seek an appointment with Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam in this regard. The exact date of the agitation will be finalised after meeting the party leaders, he said.