Thanjavur: DMK treasurer and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly M.K. Stalin today urged Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to convene an all party meeting immediately and lead a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find a solution to the Cauvery water dispute.

Addressing the gathering at the day-long hunger strike in Thanjavur today, Stalin said if the AIADMK government failed to do so, the DMK would convene an all party meeting and lead a delegation comprising representatives of all like-minded parties and farmers’ associations to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and even the President.

Stalin claimed that his party has been continuously raising its voice to protect the interests of farmers of the State on all occasions. “The BJP-led central government has betrayed the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers in Cauvery water row while the AIADMK led state government has pledged the farmers’ rights,” Stalin alleged.

Taking exception to the Centre’s argument in the Supreme Court that it has no jurisdiction to direct the central government to set up the Cauvery Management Board as it was a recommendation of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal and not binding on the government, Stalin said the Centre’s “evil act would deprive Tamil Nadu of its rights”.

He also accused Chief Minister Jayalalithaa of not reaching out to her Karnataka counterpart and Prime Minister on the issue.