Chennai: DMK sharpened its attack on TVK govt over Mekedatu, announcing a protest at Thanjavur on Aug 3, the day chief minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to visit Karnataka for talks. Stalin said Vijay’s decision to hold talks despite Tamil Nadu assembly passing a resolution seeking a separate tribunal for the Mekedatu issue would dilute the state’s position. TVK hit back at DMK, saying the state govt will not compromise on Tamil Nadu’s rights on the Cauvery issue.“When Karnataka has refused to release Cauvery water despite orders and maintains that Tamil Nadu’s consent is not needed to make a decision on the Mekedatu dam, what is the purpose of these talks,” Stalin asked. “The Karnataka visit will only dilute Tamil Nadu’s demand for a tribunal on the Mekedatu issue,” he added.Stalin said DMK will not remain mute when the state’s rights are facing a threat and added that that the party will organise a protest in Thanjavur on Aug 3, to be headed by leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin.Stalin also alleged that Vijay’s proposed Karnataka visit is shrouded in mystery. While Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar confirmed that Vijay had expressed willingness for talks, TVK ministers issued conflicting statements over the visit, he said.The former chief minister also criticised govt for not convening an all-party meeting or consulting farmers’ associations to discuss Mekedatu before holding the proposed talks.Inviting his party cadres for the protest, Udhayanidhi accused TVK govt of repeatedly betraying farmers by scaling down its crop loan waiver promise, failing to release Mettur dam water on June 12 for kuruvai cultivation, remaining passive on Mekedatu and refusing to convene an all-party meeting on Cauvery dispute.In a statement on its official X handle, TVK said DMK is levelling charges against Vijay due to frustration over losing power. TVK govt will not compromise on Tamil Nadu’s rights or permit action that harms the interests of the state’s farmers or people, whether on Mekedatu project or any other issue concerning the state, the statement said. After failing to act when it was in power, DMK is trying to shift blame as if Mekedatu issue arose after May 10 when TVK formed govt, the statement added. “Had DMK been active while in power, people would not have pushed it into an inactive mode now,” the party said.
