TIRUCHY, CHENNAI:Unwilling to tone down their protests demanding the setting up of Cauvery Management Board (CMB) which would ensure the sustainability of agriculture in Cauvery delta districts, farmers associations have planned to picket Central government offices across the State between November 16 and December 16, when the winter session of Parliament will be in progress.
The associations have also planned to launch campaign on wheels to highlight the troubles faced by farmers due to water disputes between neighbouring States. Addressing media here on Thursday, P R Pandian, convenor of Cauvery Delta All Farmers Association said, “All farming associations and political parties should come forward to support the protest aimed at attracting the attention of the Union governmewhich is repeatedly deceiving the people of Tamil Nadu. By the time Winter Session begins in Parliament, we would lay siege to all the Central government establishments including Neyveli Lignite Corporation for a month from November 16 to December 16.”
Meanwhile, the representatives of the People’s Welfare Alliance (PWA) will meet President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi on Friday in connection with the Cauvery row. Rajya Sabha members T K Rangarajan (CPM) and D Raja (CPI) will lead the delegation, which comprises MDMK general secretary and convener of PWA Vaiko, Thol. Thirumavalavan (VCK), G Ramakrishnan (CPM) and R Mutharasan (CPI), sources said.
In another related development, DMK treasurer M K Stalin alleged that Union Chemicals Minister H Ananth Kumar, a BJP leader from Karnataka, was acting with an ulterior motive on the recent move to shift the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology headquarters from Chennai to New Delhi. He sought immediate withdrawal of the order considering the welfare of nearly 2,500 employees.