Karunanidhi attacks Jayalalithaa over Cauvery issue

Chennai, Jun 10: The war of words between arch rivals Chief Minister J

and DMK President M

over the

issue continued unabated with the latter today questioning her statement that there was no need for an all-party meeting to discuss the matter.

On Jayalalithaa's remark that Centre needs time to set up Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and that why he was in a hurry to raise the issue within a week of her Delhi visit where she had taken up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Karunanidhi said she seemed to be more inclined in supporting the Centre than showing concerns on the Cauvery issue.

He recalled that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah, who had convened an all-party meeting on Monday, was also scheduled to lead an all-party delegation to Modi to press against constituting the CMB.

Responding to Jayalalithaa ruling out his demand for having an all-party meeting to discuss constituting CMB, Karunanidhi asked if it was "meaningless for Siddaramiah to hold such a meeting to elicit the views of all the parties."

"Convening an all-party meeting and getting their views will only strengthen the (cause of) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister," he said in a statement.

He also denied any laxity on part of his government in getting the 2007 final award of the Cauvery Tribunal notified in the Central gazette as alleged by Jayalalithaa, saying it was a legal matter.

While Karnataka and Kerala had moved the Supreme Court against the final award, Tamil Nadu had also sought review of some of the provisions.

And with the Tribunal also required to give some views to the government, it cannot be published in the central gazette and till that time only the interim award would be in force, he said.

PTI