CHENNAI: Two days after the farmers' associations affiliated to the the two Left parties called for a bandh on August 19 in delta districts over the Cauvery water issue, the all-party meeting convened here by Cauvery Delta All Farmers Associations’ Coordination Committee headed by PR Pandian on Saturday called for a State-wide bandh on August 25 across the State urging the Centre to ensure release of 74 tmc of water due for Tamil Nadu from Karnataka immediately.
Pandian told Express that all political parties except CPM, CPI, MDMK and AIADMK had deputed their representatives to the meeting and AM Vikrama Raja, president, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peramaippu also took part.
Asked whether two bandhs within a week’s time for a same cause would weaken their demand, Pandian said the all party meeting also appealed to the CPM, CPI and MDMK not to go ahead with the August 19 bandh and join hands with Farmers’ Coordination Committee for the August 25 bandh. He also said the trader bodies had also sought some time to prepare themselves for supporting the bandh.
The primary objective of the August 25 bandh would be to urge the Centre to ensure release of water due to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka for Samba crop and the other demands include finding early solution to all inter-State water disputes like Palar, Mullaiperiyar and Cauvery, Pandian said.
Earlier in the day, MDMK general secretary Vaiko extended support to the August 19 bandh in the delta districts and appealed to the people to support it in big way.