Cauvery row: Will not act against interests of Tamil Nadu farmers, says BJP

Nagapattinam (TN): In a bid to assuage theruffled feathers of farmers' groups in Tamil Nadu, BJP today said it will not act against their interests in the state, hoping the Centre forms a strong Cauvery Management Board soon.

"BJP will not act against the interests of farmers in Tamil Nadu and hopes that the Centre would soon form a strong, statutory and fair Cauvery Management Board (CMB)," BJP national secretary H Raja said.

Political parties had recently accused the Centre of "betraying" the state by seeking modification of a Supreme Court order asking it to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB).

The ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK had alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre made the move with an eye on the Karnataka Assembly polls, scheduled in 2018.

Speaking to reporters at Thirukkadaiyur in the district, Raja alleged the DMK-Congress combine was responsible for all the problems in the Cauvery dispute.

"In 1974, DMK failed to renew the 1924 Cauvery River Pact. The DMK, instead of pressurising the Congress government in Karnataka now to release water, is staging a drama at Thanjavur today, blaming the Union Government," he said.

Referring to the health condition of Jayalalithaa, he said it was improper to ask for release of photographs of the hospitalised Chief Minister.

"The hospital is issuing regular bulletins. Let us pray and hope for her speedy recovery," he said.

On the local body polls, which Madras High Court had declared as null and void, the BJP leader said when the state

Election Commission issues a fresh notification, candidates who had filed their nominations earlier should be allowed to contest without the need to file nominations again.