Cauvery row: DMK seeks PM’s intervention to solve crisis

Chennai, Sep 13 (PTI) Opposition DMK today sought PrimeMinister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the Cauvery crisis,urging him to convene a meeting of chief ministers of TamilNadu and Karnataka and "ensure a cordial atmosphere" in bothstates. "Prime Minister Narenda Modi should invite the ChiefMinisters of Tamil Nadu (J Jayalalithaa) and Karnataka(Siddaramiah) soon for talks and ensure a cordial atmosphere(in the two states)," DMK Treasurer and Opposition Leader inTamil Nadu Assembly, M K Stalin, said. Modi should also ensure the safety of Tamils inKarnataka, he told reporters here. Referring to the Supreme Court directive to Karnataka torelease Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, Stalin said that it wasthe duty of the Centre to ensure that the upper riparian statecomplied with the apex court order. Meanwhile, the party said it will discuss the issueduring a meeting of its key office-bearers here on September18. DMK President M Karunanidhi will chair a meeting of theparty’s district secretaries here on Sunday where the Cauveryissue and the upcoming local body polls will be discussed,party General Secretary K Anbazhagan said in a release. The protests over the Cauvery dispute turned violent inKarnataka and Tamil Nadu yesterday, with Bengaluru witnessingpolice firing on protestors and torching and damaging of TamilNadu vehicles including buses. One person was killed and another injured in the firing. In Tamil Nadu, a popular hotel owned by a Kannadiga wastargeted by protestors while vehicles bearing Karnatakaregistration were attacked in Rameswaram. Protests were also held outside branches of Bank ofKarnataka in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. PTI SA RCDV