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Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai on Saturday slammed Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over his declaration that "no one can stop" the construction of the Mekedatu dam, calling it sheer "audacity" and accusing the political dispensation in Karnataka of exploiting the river dispute for domestic electoral gains.
Speaking to ANI, Annadurai said, "The Cauvery issue has flared up only because of the dirty politics that is playing out in Karnataka. They are not able to satisfy the voters, so they use this issue as an emotional bogey to canvass for votes. That is why this has flared up unnecessarily." Asserting that no upper riparian project can proceed without the explicit consent of Tamil Nadu, he stated that the Karnataka government is misleading the public regarding the legal position laid down by the apex court. "This is the audacity of the Karnataka leadership to claim that the Supreme Court has given a green signal. The Supreme Court has made it very clear that the lower riparian state has equal rights. You cannot build anything that will affect the lower riparian state without the explicit consent of the lower riparian state. This is the law; this is what the Supreme Court has said, and Mr DK Shivakumar is doing this for political considerations," the DMK spokesperson added. Annadurai also took aim at Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, calling his recent unilateral statements on the Cauvery dispute a "tactical blunder," while reiterating Chief Minister MK Stalin's emphasis on state unity. "Along with that, there is the tactical blunder committed by Mr Vijay, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Our leader Mr M.K. Stalin, has clearly pointed out that saying you would go to Bengaluru without consulting anybody, and it was an insult. When you say you are going to Karnataka, you are not going as an individual; you are going there as a representative of the entire state. It has let us down. These kinds of tactical blunders should not have been committed," Annadurai asserted. Emphasising that all political stakeholders in Tamil Nadu remain united against any infringement on their water rights, he added, "We should stay united. All the political parties here in the state of Tamil Nadu will not compromise; all of them stand united on this issue. So why don't you gather the collective voices of the state and then represent them?" Annadurai's remarks come after Shivakumar, earlier today, reiterated his commitment to construct the Mekedatu dam, declaring that the project is a state right and asserting that the state will not back down from safeguarding its interests. Speaking to the media at the Vidhana Soudha premises, Shivakumar emphasised that Tamil Nadu, instead of opposing this move, should send a delegation to Karnataka so he can explain the benefits the neighbouring state stands to gain from the project. The Mekedatu project is Karnatakas right, and it is our duty to implement it in accordance with the Supreme Courts directive. Instead of opposing the move, Tamil Nadu should send a delegation so I can explain the benefits they stand to gain from it. We will not back down at any stage when it comes to safeguarding the interests of our state, he said. Shivakumar further asserted that everyone should abide by the Supreme Courts order. Dismissing the resistance from Tamil Nadu, he remarked that opposition to the project is driven by political compulsions.Anyone is free to oppose it, but Tamil Nadu must also recognise that this is our state and our right. If they wish, let them send a delegation. I am prepared to take them to the dam site and walk them through the project. What is happening there is purely politicsif the Congress doesn't oppose it, the DMK will; if the DMK doesn't, the AIADMK will. However, this is not a political matter. Everyone must respect the law of the land and abide by the Supreme Courts order. Receiving 177 TMC of water is Tamil Nadus right, and we will honour it. While protecting our own rights, we will respect theirs as well. Building the dam and releasing water is both our right and our duty. Aside from the Central Government's requirement to provide compensatory land for the submerged forest area, this is entirely our project being built on our land, the CM emphasised. Addressing concerns that the Mekedatu project could adversely affect Tamil Nadu's water supply, the Chief Minister underscored Karnataka's obligation to safeguard the water allocations of both states as mandated by the apex court, asserting that construction of the dam will ensure the neighbouring state receives its defined share of the water. He even invited Tamil Nadu for fact-based discussions over the matter. We bear the responsibility of protecting the water share due to Tamil Nadu, just as we must protect Karnatakas rightful share. The Supreme Court has clearly defined their 177 TMC entitlement. Delivering the water owed to them is our duty. We will build the dam and ensure they receive their share. Let Tamil Nadu come forward for discussionsI am ready to present the facts of the project. I will gather complete details on this and speak further in the coming days, DK Shivakumar added. (ANI)
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