Congress MP from TN boycotts Karnataka CM swearing-in ceremony for his statement on Mekedatu dam issue

Congress MP B. Manickam Tagore said that he has boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka’s new Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar only because of his statement on Mekedatu dam issue.

“Tamil Nadu Congress Committee will not accept any issue that affects the rights of Tamil Nadu. Otherwise, I would have attended the ceremony,” he told reporters here on Wednesday.

T.N. BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran criticises Congress’ Manickam Tagore over Mekedatu

Politicians in Karnataka were making politics out of Mekedatu dam issue as their political livelihood was dependent on Cauvery river water issue, the Virudhunagar MP said. Politicians from Karnataka were keeping alive Mekedatu dam issue to divert attention of the people of Karnataka from pressing State issues, including drinking water crisis in Bengaluru.

“It is immaterial who the Chief Minister of Karnataka is – be it B.S. Yediyurappa or the present Chief Minister Mr. Shivakumar. Whenever they cannot solve those burning issues, they immediately talk about constructing Mekedatu dam,” the MP said.

For the Congress in Tamil Nadu, the Cauvery river water issue was the right of Tamil Nadu and the party would never give it up. “We are ready to pay any price for it,” he said. State Ministers belonging to the Congress too have made their stand clear against Karnakata’s move to construct a new dam across the Cauvery river, the MP said.