Parties: Unite to fight for Mekedatu
DMDK, PMK seek Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to meet PM Modi
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-04-20 05:49 GMT
Chennai: The DMDK and PMK on Sunday urged Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam to lead an all-party leaders delegation to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent Karnataka from going ahead with construction of a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu.Their demand came in the wake of Karnataka Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah’s assertion that he will lead a delegation of all-party leaders to meet Mr Modi on April 22.
Leader of the opposition and DMDK president Vijayakanth said Chief Minister Panneerselvam should immediately constitute an all-party committee to call on Mr Modi to explain the state’s demand. Construction of a dam at Mekedatu across the Cauvery is a livelihood issue of farmers who are already facing severe drought and poverty, he said.
Urging the political parties in the state to forget thier differences and unite under one umbrella on the Mekedatu issue, PMK founder, Dr S. Ramadoss, said the state government should convene an all-party meeting to discuss the Mekedatu dam issue.
“A resolution must be passed in that meeting about the issue and the Chief Minister should lead an all-party delegation with all political party leaders and meet the Prime Minister and present the demands of Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Pointing out that the ruling BJP needs the support of the MPs of AIADMK and DMK for passing many bills in the Rajya Sabha, he urged the AIADMK and DMK to announce that support in the Upper House can be extended only if the illegal construction of a dam at Mekedatu is stopped. “This way, the danger of converting Cauvery delta districts into a desert can be prevented,” he said.