The BJP, the CPI, and the DMDK on Saturday held protests condemning the Karnataka government’s firmness to go ahead with its plan to construct a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu and not releasing Tamil Nadu’s due share of river water.
While State BJP president Nainar Nagenthran led the BJP’s rally and the demonstration held near the Panagal Building on Anna Salai in Thanjavur, CPI State executive committee member and Thiruthuraipoondi MLA K. Marimuthu presided over the CPI Thanjavur South district unit’s protest held near the Thanjavur Head Post Office on M.K. Moopanar Road.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Nagenthran said that whenever the Congress assumed power in Karnataka, Cauvery water stopped flowing into Tamil Nadu, but when the State was under BJP rule from 2018 to 2023, Tamil Nadu received uninterrupted flow of water from the river.
While slogans condemning the Karnataka government and the Central government were raised at the CPI’s demonstration, those at the BJP protest held the Congress and Karnataka government responsible for the current drought-like situation prevailing in Tamil Nadu’s delta districts. However, both parties sought immediate water release from the Cauvery to save the standing kuruvai crop and prevent people from facing drinking water shortage in the months to come.
A similar demonstration was organised by the CPI Thanjavur North district unit at Kumbakonam, wherein the demonstrators urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to permit Karnataka to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu.
