MNM holds talks with parties, farmers on Cauvery; DMK skips

The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), founded by actor-politician Kamal Haasan today held deliberations with different political parties and farmers' organisations on the Cauvery dispute while the DMK and 'Superstar' Rajinikanth gave it a miss.

While Kamal Haasan had personally invited DMK Working President MK Stalin, he had spoken to Rajinikanth over the phone seeking his participation in today's meeting.

The meeting was attended by TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and Dr S Ramadoss-founded Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) besides some farmer's bodies.

Stalin had earlier said DMK and its allies, including Congress, had decided not to attend the event as there was "no need" to do so.

Responding to the abstention of DMK, Haasan said Stalin might have said so because "of a lack of understanding over what we had planned to do today."
"When I invited him (over the phone) he said I (Haasan) had started a party but he was yet to and therefore how could he attend the event."