The long and arduous legal battle launched by the AIADMK government resulted in the 'historic' victory for Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery issue, Chief Minister K Palaniswami today said and accused DMK chief M Karunanidhi of having 'betrayed' the state by withdrawing a case in 1971.
"MGR (late chief minister M G Ramachandran) worked for it, Amma (his protege Jayalalithaa) worked for it and now we are following their footsteps. AIADMK is spearheading this fight. We even protested stalling the Parliament for 22 days," he said.
Palaniswami was addressing a public meeting organised here to celebrate the Centre's recent action of constituting the Cauvery Water Management Authority as per the orders of the Supreme Court.
Attacking arch-rival DMK, he said: "In 1971, DMK withdrew case filed by the state government in the Supreme Court under political pressure. Indira Gandhi was then Prime Minister. DMK and Karunanidhi betrayed people. Had he not withdrawn the case, we would have found a solution to the dispute long ago."
Noting that water from Mettur Dam could be opened only when the water level crossed 90 ft, Palaniswami said the Cauvery catchment areas were getting good rainfall and "God will help us get water in plenty this year."
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