TN BJP unit terms parties' agitation on Cauvery an 'eyewash'

Terming as 'eyewash' the protests by various political parties over the Cauvery issue, BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan today said her party would secure the state's rights in the dispute with Karnataka.

The BJP is taking constructive steps in this regard and "will fight for the cause and get Tamil Nadu the rightful share of water," she told reporters here.

"While BJP wants a legal solution to the problem, the agitations by other parties over the issue is just an eyewash," she said.

To a query on Chief Minister K Palaniswami sitting on fast 'condemning' the Centre for not setting up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) in compliance with the Supreme Court order, Soundararajan said everyone has the right to protest.

The opposition DMK and some other parties friendly to it have been holding protests across the state demanding setting up of the CMB by the Centre in compliance with the Supreme court on the vexed issue.

In its February 16 judgement, the apex court had raised the 270 tmcft share of Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water.

It had granted six weeks time to the Centre to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance of its 465-page judgement, which modified the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award.

Following the verdict, Tamil Nadu had been urging the Centre to set up the CMB and CWRC to ensure it received its due share of water from the inter-state river.

The six-week period ended on March 29.