'Why is TN govt not convening all-party meet on Cauvery issue'

With Karnataka ruling out release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, Opposition DMK today demanded to know why the state government was not convening an all-party meeting to discuss the matter.
DMK president M Karunanidhi pointed out that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had recently convened an all-party meeting involving BJP, Congress and JD(S), where the issue of Tamil Nadu moving the Supreme Court seeking 50 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water was discussed in detail.
Referring to Karnataka's proposal to construct a dam on Cauvery at Mekedatu, he said all parties in that state are united on this matter.

"As far as Karnataka is concerned, all political parties, including ruling Congress and BJP which is running the government at the Centre, are united on the Mekedatu issue. That state's Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) often convenes all- party meetings to get their opinions," Karunanidhi said in a statement.
However, the "rulers here are not prepared to heed demands for convening all-party meeting," to discuss the issue, the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said.
The state government either took up the matter with the Centre through letters or by adopting resolutions in the state Assembly, he added.

Karunanidhi said an all-party delegation from Karnataka had also called on the Prime Minister in April on the Mekedatu issue but no such thing had happened in Tamil Nadu.

The DMK leader said Tamil Nadu was facing problems over inter-state water disputes involving neighbouring states -- Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in Siruvani, Palar and Cauvery, respectively.
Karnataka had on Saturday said it was not possible for it to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu given the "severe distress" faced by it, as an all-party meeting decided that the Supreme Court be apprised of the "ground reality" on the case filed by its neighbour.