DMK urges TN Assembly session for discussions on Cauvery issue

With a special session of the Karnataka legislature scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the Cauvery issue, Tamil Nadu Opposition DMK today urged the state government to follow suit to discuss the next course of action over the water sharing.

"In Karnataka, the Assembly session has been convened hurriedly on September 23. At the same time, should not the legislature in Tamil Nadu also be convened," DMK President M Karunanidhi said in a statement.

He said such a session could be useful to chalk out the next course of action and the strategy even as Karnataka has deferred water release.

On September 20, the apex court had directed Karnataka to release 6000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu till September 27, besides asking Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board.

Yesterday, the Karnataka government decided to defer the release of the 6,000 cusecs of water till Friday, when the special session of the state legislature discusses the Supreme Court's direction.

Karunanidhi said that following the ruling, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah convened a cabinet meeting and an all-party meeting but no such meetings were being held in Tamil Nadu.

Farmers in the state were not satisfied with the 6000 cusecs share of water as directed by Supreme Court, he said and asked why Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has not spelled out the government's stand on the quantum of water allowed by the apex court.