Cauvery row: CM C Joseph Vijay backs talks with Karnataka, spars with Udhayanidhi Stalin

Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay defended his stance on direct talks with Karnataka over the Cauvery water dispute and said that he was prepared to endure even "humiliation" if an attempt at dialogue could help protect the state's interests.

"I thought, what if talks are held with the neighbouring state? Even countries that are sworn enemies hold dialogue to resolve issues," Vijay said on Friday while addressing the assembly. The CM made the remarks as he clashed with the leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin over the Mekedatu dam issue in the assembly. The DMK leader questioned the government's handling of the water dispute and demanded an all-party meeting on Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project.

In a heated exchange that followed, Vijay rejected LoP's demand for such a meeting and reiterated that Tamil Nadu would not compromise on its rights over Cauvery water. He also warned the Opposition not to turn the contentious interstate dispute into a political battle. "There is no need to convene an all-party meeting. Please do not play politics on the Mekedatu dam issue," Vijay said while emphasising that the government had taken note of the Opposition's views on the Cauvery issue and stressed that it had no intention of politicising a matter to which the people of Tamil Nadu have an emotional attachment. Vijay added that all parties earlier came together to pass a resolution on Mekedatu and that the state's position was subsequently conveyed to PM Narendra Modi. He said the government did not stop there and later wrote to the PM citing the final verdict of the Cauvery Tribunal and relevant legal provisions while urging the Centre not to allow the project.


Udhayanidhi, however, questioned why the TVK government was dragging its feet on convening an all-party meeting when the Karnataka government took a similar step.