Wait until March 29: Panneerselvam on Cauvery issue

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Monday said there is still time for the Central government to set up the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) as per the Supreme Court orders.

Speaking in the assembly, Panneerselvam said: "We will wait till the end of this month, then take the next course of action."

He said the state has to wait for the six weeks deadline given by the Supreme Court to get over.

Earlier DMK leader M.K. Stalin said the ruling AIADMK should support the no-trust motion to be moved by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) against the Central government.

Stalin said Andhra Pradesh government is putting pressure on the Central government to secure special status for the state.

He urged the AIADMK to support the no trust motion so as to mount pressure on the Central government to set up CMB and CWRC.

Panneerselvam said the Cauvery issue against Karnataka should not be compared with the Andhra Pradesh situation.

According to Panneerselvam, the TDP was part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the past four-and-half years.

He said Stalin was trying to create an illusion as if the TDP in Andhra Pradesh was fighting for its rights whereas nothing was being done in Tamil Nadu.

The Supreme Court on February 16 ordered the Central government to set up CMB and CWRC within six weeks.