Mekedatu Row: TN Parties Across the Spectrum, Including BJP's Annamalai, Slam Centre's 'U-Turn'; CPM Announces August 2 Protests

A day after Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking withdrawal of a Union minister's Rajya Sabha reply on the Mekedatu project, political parties across Tamil Nadu criticised the Centre's position on July 29, describing it as a 'U-turn' on Karnataka's obligation to seek Tamil Nadu's consent before building structures across the Cauvery.

Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister N. Anand reiterated the state government's firm opposition to Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam, saying all necessary legal measures would be taken to protect Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water and safeguard delta farmers' livelihoods.

BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai said the Centre's Rajya Sabha reply appeared to reverse its earlier position on Karnataka's obligations under the Cauvery Tribunal Award, warning that Tamil Nadu should not be taken for granted and that the interests of the state's farmers must not be compromised.

CPM state secretary P. Shanmugam criticised the Union government's response and announced that the party would hold protests across the Cauvery delta districts on August 2 over the issue.

The reactions came against the backdrop of a wider dispute this season over a shortfall in Cauvery water releases from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.