DMK ignores Congress protest over Cauvery

Chennai: The first public programme of Congress after S. Thirunavukkarasar took over as TNCC chief, a day-long fast condemning the Centre for opposing the Supreme Court direction to form Cauvery Management Board, was ignored by the DMK and boycotted by a few Congress leaders as well.

Former TNCC leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan did not attend the protest, but he visited the Apollo Hospital on the same day and wished a speedy recovery for Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Besides, AICC secretary A. Chellakumar also did not turn up for the hunger protest.

The hunger protest led by Thirunavukkarasar in Tiruchy was ignored by ally DMK, as none of the district functionaries including the district secretary K.N. Nehru turned up at the meeting venue to felicitate TNCC chief S. Thirunavukkarasu.

It is the usual practice of the DMK to send one of its representatives to the public programmes of its allies and the Congress functionaries were expecting the arrival of one of the DMK leaders from the district during the fast. But, the ally’s function was totally ignored by the Dravidian major.

Besides, the party’s AICC secretary A. Chellakumar, belonging to Tamil Nadu too boycotted the protest. Chellakumar, who is in charge of Karnataka did not attend the protest as it is said that his rapport with Congress leaders in Karnataka would be affected, if he took part in the protest against the neighbouring state.

Former TNCC leader E.V.K.S. Elangovan too did not take part in the hunger protest. Speaking in the protest, Thirunavukkarasar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had refused to meet the AIADMK MPs and this amounted to insulting Tamil Nadu.

Modi is refusing to form the Cauvery Management Board, he said adding that the Congress would raise its voice for the people of Tamil Nadu on all issues including Cauvery and Salem Steel Plant.