Centre betrayed Tamil Nadu's interest: Vaiko on Cauvery dispute

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Oct 18 (ANI): MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Tuesday alleged that the Centre has betrayed Tamil Nadu's interest by refusing to implement the Cauvery tribunal's verdict. Vaiko's reaction came after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders joined the 48-hour state-wide 'rail roko' protest called by the farmers' federation demanding the Centre's intervention in setting up of the Cauvery Management Board in the ongoing Cauvery water dispute. "Yesterday's rail roko agitation was a tremendous success and that should awaken the conscience of Centre that it had betrayed the interest of Tamil Nadu by refusing to implement the verdict of the Cauvery tribunal," he said. Demanding the Centre to constitute a Cauvery Management Board, he said, "There is no need for the legislation in Parliament. So, this is the second day the anger of the people of Tamil Nadu is demonstrated by peaceful means..but the Central Government should not misunderstand this." "So, the Central Government is trying to totally deny the basic legal rights of Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery river water issue...So, the entire Tamil Nadu's spontaneously agitation has been conducted for the second consecutive day to condemn the betrayal attitude of the Union Government headed by Narendra Modi," he added. Earlier on Monday, DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin led his party's 'Rail Roko' demonstration over the Cauvery issue in Chennai. Meanwhile, the protests continue in Tamil Nadu demanding that the Union Government set-up the Cauvery Management Board in order to resolve the deadlock between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The farmers' organisations have condemned the Centre for taking a stand against setting up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) immediately on the ground that the matter fell in the domain of Parliament. The city came to a standstill yesterday as major opposition parties in Tamil Nadu held a massive protest. As the protest continues for the second day today, several opposition leaders and cadres courted arrested across several rail stations in Tamil Nadu (ANI)