Cauvery issue: AIADMK to organise statewide fast

Chennai, Mar 13: The opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu will organise a statewide fast in two phases to condemn the Central and State Governments for ''betraying'' the state's interest in the contentious Cauvery issue.

AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa will observe a day-long fast near Valluvar Kottam here on March 18, while the agitation will be held in other district headquarters on March 21, according to a revised schedule released by the party headquarters here.

This will be the second time that Ms Jayalalithaa will go on a fast on the vexed Cauvery issue.

She observed fast for three days on the Marina beach during her first tenure as Chief Minister in July 1993, demanding monitoring and implementation committees on the interim award of the Tribunal.

Ms Jayalalithaa charged the Centre and the DMK Government with having not taken any step to implement the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and announced the token fast, demanding its immediate gazette notification.

She also called upon farmers and general public to take part in the hunger strike in large numbers as the Cauvery issue was a ''life problem'' for Tamil Nadu.

Ms Jayalalithaa said the Tamil Nadu Government was yet to approach the Tribunal even after announcing at an all-party meeting that it would seek clarifications with regard to ''unfavourable'' points in the final award.

The State Government neither moved the Supreme Court nor took efforts to notify the final award in the gazette to get at least minimum quantum of Cauvery water for delta farmers as suggested by the AIADMK, she added.

UNI

Related Stories