Naina Nagendran lashes out at Congress over the Cauvery dispute.
Thanjavur. Politics in Tamil Nadu has heated up once again over the Cauvery river water-sharing issue and the Mekedatu dam project. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress party, Tamil Nadu BJP State President Nainar Nagendran alleged that Congress is undermining Tamil Nadu’s legitimate rights regarding the Cauvery river. He stated that the Congress government in Karnataka is not cooperating in releasing Tamil Nadu’s share of water and is attempting to push ahead with the Mekedatu dam project, a move that could adversely affect the interests of the state’s farmers and the general public.
Leading a BJP rally and protest in Thanjavur on Saturday evening, Nagendran criticized the policies of the Congress government. The protest was organized specifically to oppose the dam proposed by the Karnataka government at Mekedatu and to highlight the Cauvery water dispute. A large number of BJP workers participated in the event, demanding the protection of Tamil Nadu’s water rights.
Addressing the gathering, Nagendran remarked that the Cauvery river is the lifeline of Tamil Nadu’s agricultural system and that the state holds a legitimate right to its waters. He alleged that the Karnataka government is consistently taking steps that could jeopardize Tamil Nadu’s share of water. According to him, the Mekedatu dam project could control future water flow, potentially impacting agriculture and drinking water supplies in Tamil Nadu’s delta regions.
In his address, the BJP state president also referred to the Cauvery water agreement. He noted that the agreement should have been renewed in 1974, but this did not happen. He alleged that the renewal failed to take place due to pressure from the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and a political blunder by the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Nagendran claimed that this was the reason the Cauvery water dispute became increasingly complex over time.
Continuing his attack on the Congress, he also raised the issue of Katchatheevu Island. He stated that the Congress government had previously ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, and now the same party is undermining Tamil Nadu’s rights over the Cauvery river. According to him, the Congress party’s stance is not aligned with the state’s interests, and this is fueling concerns among the people of Tamil Nadu.
Nagendran also targeted Tamil Nadu Congress leaders. He stated that Congress leaders cannot fulfill their responsibilities merely by issuing statements and making sarcastic remarks on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He questioned why Tamil Nadu Congress leaders do not visit Karnataka to question their own party’s government there, given that the Congress is in power in that state. He asserted that if the Congress is genuinely serious about Tamil Nadu’s interests, it should pressure the Karnataka government to fully comply with the Cauvery water agreements and court directives.
The BJP state president noted that the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu’s farmers depend on the waters of the Cauvery River. Lakhs of farmers in the state’s delta regions cultivate major crops, including paddy, and timely access to adequate water is crucial for them. Consequently, any adverse impact on the flow of the Cauvery would directly affect agricultural production and farmers’ incomes.
He urged BJP workers to launch a public awareness campaign to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s water rights and to educate the public about this issue. He affirmed that the BJP would continue to raise its voice on every democratic platform to protect the interests of the state’s farmers and the general public, and would oppose any compromise regarding the Cauvery River water.
During a protest held in Thanjavur, BJP leaders and workers raised slogans against the Mekedatu project and demanded that the state government take effective measures to protect Tamil Nadu’s interests. Leaders participating in the protest emphasized that the Cauvery water dispute is not merely a political matter but an issue linked to the future of lakhs of farmers; therefore, it must be treated with seriousness.
The Cauvery is one of South India’s major rivers, and a long-standing dispute over water sharing has persisted between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Political parties have frequently traded accusations over this issue. In the latest development, the statement by BJP state president Naina Nagendran has reignited this debate. Although there has been no immediate official response from the Congress regarding these allegations, it is believed that state politics could heat up further over this issue in the coming days.
