DMK to stage black flag protest against PM

Chennai: The DMK has decided to stage a black flag demonstration against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Tamil Nadu on April 15 to protest against the Centre for not setting up the Cauvery Water Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee as directed the Supreme Court. The decision was taken in emergency executive committee of the party held in Chennai on Friday.

Speaking to reporters soon after meeting, DMK working president M.K. Stalin said the black flag stir would be part of the next course of action the party would take up over the Cauvery water issue.

He said the DMK has sought to meet Modi to raise the issue. However, there was no reply from the Centre despite several letters. A 'massive demonstration' will be held against the Central and state governments, which are enacting dramas over the Cauvery issue.

M.K. Stalin, the Opposition leader, said the executive committee has accorded permission to the leadership to consult with other like minded/friendly party leaders to conduct a further form of demonstrations. Leaders of all friendly parties would be consulted on April 1 and a decision would be announced.

When asked about the AIADMK's decision to observe fast on April 3, Stalin said the ruling party has not taken any action so far and now planning to stage demonstration. The people will not trust them. The ruling party in the state has been supporting the Centre with an intention of saving themselves from corruption cases and rights of the state were being sacrificed.

Meanwhile, executive committee of DMK adopted a resolution condemning the  'inaction' of the Central and state governments over the  Cauvery issue. Both Centre and state haven't obeyed the apex court order.  Another resolution authorised Stalin to hold an "all parties meet" to decide on the kind of stir to be adopted against the Central and state governments.

Another resolution demanded the state government to halt the expansion project in Sterlite industries at Thoothukudi, as the unit itself facing the ire of people in the region over the years. Another resolution demanded the state to cancel the election to cooperative societies as large-scale irregularities were committed. The party condemned the Centre for not providing 27 per cent reservation to BC candidates in the admission into PG medical courses at medical colleges across the country.

Another resolution opposed the proposed Neutrino project at Theni and urged the state  government to approach the National Green Tribunal against the  environmental clearance granted to it by the authorities. The project, if implemented, would affect groundwater table and water resources in the region. While granting environmental clearance to the project, the authorities had warned the project proponent not to destroy hill. This itself shows how dangerous the project would be. The party demanded the state government to put on hold the environmental clearance to be given by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to the project.