The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will consider moving a no-trust motion against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government on the Cauvery row only if the Congress supports it, PTI reported on Sunday.
“[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam working president] Stalin says AIADMK should bring a no-trust motion [on the Cauvery issue],” party leader M Thambidurai told the news agency. “We are ready to bring it. Let Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi issue a statement [indicating their support], they [DMK] are in alliance with them [Congress]... only if the Congress support, we will get the [requisite] numbers,” he added.
In February, the Supreme Court had directed Karnataka to release 177.25 thousand million cubic feet of Cauvery water per year to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundlu dam. So Tamil Nadu will now get 404.25 tmcft of Cauvery water instead of the 419 tmcft allotted by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 2007.
The Congress is in power in Karnataka.
The Supreme Court had also ordered the Centre to set up the Cauvery board within six weeks to ensure that its ruling on the allocation of Cauvery water is implemented. The deadline expired on Thursday.
Thambidurai said the AIADMK will only move the no-confidence motion in Parliament on the Cauvery row. “Only on the Cauvery issue... not for any other general issue,” said the party leader. “To urge constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, and since the Centre has failed to do that, we will consider that if other parties like Congress support it.”
The ruling party will also start a hunger strike on Monday in all districts of Tamil Nadu while the opposition DMK will lead a shutdown across the state on April 5.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!