Cauvery row: DMK flays Centre for seeking modification of Supreme Court order

Party chief M Karunanidhi also urged the state govt to convene an all- party meeting and hold a special sitting of the state Assembly to discuss the matter

DMK on Monday lashed out at the Centre for seeking modification of a Supreme Court order asking it to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board, charging the BJP-led government with making such a move with an eye on Assembly polls in Karnataka.

Party chief M Karunanidhi said the Centre has "belittled" the Indian judicial system and "betrayed" Tamils by making such a submission in the apex court.

He also urged the state government to convene an all- party meeting and hold a special sitting of the state Assembly to discuss the matter.

"Those in power at the Centre (BJP) have taken a sudden, biased decision with an eye on the Karnataka polls scheduled in 2018. It (Centre) has completely echoed Karnataka's voice. This is condemnable," he said in a statement.

Unable to find a foothold in Tamil Nadu, BJP has resorted to such a move with the hope of at least winning the Karnataka polls, he said.

This amounted to "belittling Indian justice delivery system and betraying Tamil people". The Centre has only echoed the statements of Karnataka Ministers in the Union Cabinet on the Cauvery issue, he alleged.

"Under these circumstances, the decisions of the Centre (moving the apex court) and Karnataka (not to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu) should be unitedly opposed by all in Tamil Nadu. At least at such a critical juncture, the Tamil Nadu government should convene an all-party meeting and a special session of the Assembly to discuss (the Cauvery issue)," he said.

The Centre moved the apex court today seeking modification of its earlier order asking it to constitute CWMB by Tuesday.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the court that the Centre should not have been asked to constitute the CWMB as the main civil appeal on the issue was still pending and the task of setting up the board fell under the domain of the Executive.