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Cauvery Scheme Delay: DMK plans to launch ‘Jallikattu-style’ protests in Tamil Nadu

Cauvery water dispute: Top DMK party sources said a brainstorming session of top leaders, including working president M K Stalin, late on Thursday night, discussed at least three ideas for the protest.

In light of the Central government failing to constitute a Cauvery Water Management Board within the given time provisioned for by the Supreme Court, the deadline for which ended Thursday, Tamil Nadu Opposition party DMK is thinking of launching a state-wide agitation in the state on a massive scale starting Friday, especially in Chennai, similar to the Jallikattu protests held on Marina beach.

Top party sources said a brainstorming session of top leaders, including working president M K Stalin, late on Thursday night, discussed at least three ideas for the protest.When asked about the tight security in the city and restrictions imposed on protests in Chennai city, including Marina beach, the leader said the Jallikattu-model protest organised at Marina can be replicated at the DMK headquarters itself. “Who will stop us if Anna Arivalayam (DMK headquarters) is going to be the epicentre?” he said.

When asked about the tight security in the city and restrictions imposed on protests in Chennai city, including Marina beach, the leader said the Jallikattu-model protest organised at Marina can be replicated at the DMK headquarters itself. “Who will stop us if Anna Arivalayam (DMK headquarters) is going to be the epicentre?” he said.

“The AIADMK ruling the state has fully surrendered before BJP and the Cauvery scheme is delayed as BJP is eyeing the upcoming Karnataka election. There was no announcement from AIADMK government on their next course of action on Thursday also. We are not going to be silent. Our agitation is to force the Centre to implement the SC order. The last night’s (DMK) meeting has decided to launch an extraordinary protest in the state from Friday or at the earliest,” he added.

AIADMK to hold fast demanding constitution of Cauvery Management Board

Tamil Nadu’s ruling AIADMK on Friday announced that its cadres across the state will undertake a day-long fast on Monday demanding immediate constitution of Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

The day-long fast, to be held at all district headquarters, is to exert pressure on the BJP-led Union Government to implement the Supreme Court order asking it to set up a scheme to ensure that the award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal is adhered to.

"AIADMK will hold a hunger fast on April 2 in all the districts, demanding the centre to set up the Cauvery Management Board," party coordinator and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam announced on Friday.

The announcement comes a day after the Tamil Nadu Government decided to move a contempt petition against the Centre in Supreme Court on the grounds that the apex court order was not followed.

Immediately after Panneerselvam made the announcement, chief minister and AIADMK joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami said the fast would help in expressing the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu on Cauvery issue.

The day-long fast is being seen as a desperate measure by the AIADMK, which is being increasingly isolated by other parties on the Cauvery issue. Opposition parties, especially the DMK, accuses AIADMK of having sold the state’s rights to the BJP due to its "subservient" attitude.