Jaya flays TN CM on Cauvery release by K'taka

Chennai, July 7 (UNI) Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today flayed Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for not prevailing upon his Karnataka counterpart H D Kumaraswamy to release Cauvery water from K R Sagar to the Mettur Dam.

In a statement here, she said when Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa reportedly ordered stopping the release of water to the Mettur Dam from K R Sagar, Mr Karunanidhi, instead of taking up the matter with Mr Kumaraswamy for securing water, went to Bangalore to take rest.

At the time when the delta farmers were facing a crisis, Mr Karunanidhi should have met his Karnataka counterpart and prevailed upon him to release the water.

But, he failed in his duty as Chief Minister by opting to take rest for three days, she alleged.

The Chief Minister might argue that he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and drew his attention.

As the Prime Minister had not come out with any worthy suggestions in the past to resolve the crisis, there was no point in taking up the matter with him, she charged.

She said Mr Karunanidhi had always blamed her for not maintaining cordial relations with the neighbouring states, but she never failed to protect the interest of the state.

However, Mr Karunanidhi, while claiming he maintained good relations with the neighbouring states, continued to betray the interest of farmers of Tamil Nadu, she alleged.

Ms Jayalalithaa also hit out at Mr Yediyurappa for ordering the stoppage of the Cauvery water to the state, saying this posed a serious threat to India's sovereignty and federal concept.

UNI