Cauvery verdict: Tamil Nadu govt calls all-party meet on Feb 22

Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced that it would convene an all-party meeting on February 22 to decide on the next course of action to be taken on the Supreme Court's verdict on Cauvery river dispute where the state's share of water has been reduced by 14.75 TMC.

The announcement was made after a high-level meeting held by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami. "The meeting, aimed at establishing the rights of the state and to safeguard the interests of the farmers relying on the Cauvery water, will hold consultation with all the parties to take a decision further action on the Supreme Court's order," an official release said.

The main opposition party DMK, which had called for an all-party meeting on February 23, cancelled it following the government's decision to hold one. It was DMK working president MK Stalin who urged the state government to convene an all-party meeting including leaders of the farmers' association to decide on the Apex court verdict.

CM Palaniswami, meanwhile, accused the Opposition, particularly the DMK, of trying to mislead the people saying the government had failed in the case. Even on Sunday, Palaniswami maintained that there are many positives in the order even though he was disappointed at the reduction of water quantum. He also said the SC verdict binds the Centre to set up the Cauvery Management Board in six weeks' time. He said the government would decide on the next course of action after studying the verdict and consulting legal experts.

Stalin welcomed the announcement of the all-party meeting and said his party would participate in the meet and give constructive suggestions to the government on the issue. He also said that representatives of farmers associations should be invited for the meet as their opinion on the issue was crucial. "A proposed all-party meeting called by the DMK in this regard now stands cancelled," he said.