DMK to support farmers association bandh over Mekedatu dam row

DMK on Monday alleged that Karnataka releases water from Cauvery only when there is surplus water available to Tamil Nadu and not according to river dispute tribunal orders. M Karunanidhi said his party would support the March 28 bandh over the Mekedatu dam row. The Coordination Committee of All Farmers Association plans to stage a 12-hour-bandh on March 28 and several political parties have offered them support.

“Karnataka releases water from Cauvery only when there is surplus water available to Tamil Nadu and not as per the orders of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal,” Karunanidhi alleged.

He said that DMK spokesperson T K S Elangovan had participated in the farmers association meeting on March 21, in which ruling AIADMK did not take part and urged the party to support the stir considering the significance of the issue.

“DMK will support the protest call given by the farmers’ association. I also urge those parties which did not take part in the farmers association meeting to offer support to the farmers that day,” he said.

Stating that farmers would never ‘forgive’ the government or any other political party if they did not participate in the bandh, the DMK patriarch said, it would be only proper if the government itself came forward and announced that state transport buses would not ply between 6 AM to 6 PM and offices would not operate on that day during that period.

He sought the support of commercial establishments and theatre owners to take part in the strike. Asked for his reaction on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reported comments that no provision in law can prevent construction of dams at Mekedatu, Karunanidhi quipped that “the Tamil Nadu government thinks their duty is over just by writing letters to the Centre.”