TN prefers amicable settlement of Cauvery issue: MK

Thiruvanamalai, Tamil Nadu, Mar 18 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said that he was not for a confrontation with Karnataka on the Cauvery issue and preferred an amicable settlement of the issue through legal means.

Addressing an official function here last evening, he said the unity between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala was important and Tamil Nadu would like to maintain a cordial relationship with all the neighbouring states.

Though Tamil, Kannadiga, Telugu and Malayali had different language, they all belonged to the same race- the Dravidian and could not afford to have fratricidal war among them.

He said the people of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states were like brothers and they could not be divided on issues like inter-state water disputes.

''Karnataka and Kerala are not foreign countries. They are neighbouring states. As we dwell at length about unity, integrity and sovereignty, the DMK, founded by late C N Annadurai, who gave up the demand for separate state for the integrity of the country, would never accept disintegration of the country.

If people of Karnataka and Kerala resort to violence, we need not retaliate. We have to solve the issue amicably through legal means,'' he said.

Mr Karunanidhi said after becoming the Chief Minister, he had held talks with 11 different Karnataka Chief Ministers on the vexed Cauvery issue.

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