BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday said the Central government will definitely constitute the Cauvery Management Board within the six-week time frame set by the Supreme Court.
Addressing mediapersons here, she said the Centre was proceeding on the issue in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court, adding that the deadline for constituting the board will be met.
Adverting to the claim made by some regional political parties that the southern States were footing the bill for the development of northern States, the BJP leader said such statements constituted “seditious arguments”, and warned that stoking regional sentiments was dangerous. “The country’s sovereignty and integrity should be protected at all costs,” she said.
According to her, the southern States were not being discriminated against, as had been alleged by DMK leader M.K. Stalin. She claimed that only after the BJP came to power at the Centre did the implementation of several schemes like the metro rail begin in southern States.
Regarding the Congress’ 84th plenary session discussing a return to ballot papers, she said the forfeiture of deposit by Congress party candidates in the recently held byelections in various States had forced the party to talk about returning to the old system of voting.
Even if the casting of votes was to be through ballot papers, the Congress candidates would still lose their deposits. A return to ballot papers would only regress the country’s development. And, the Congress talking about returning to ballot papers was akin to insulting the voters who exercised their franchise in free, fair and democratically-held elections, she said.
The BJP was a force to reckon with both inside and outside Parliament. However much the Congress may try, it will not be able to undermine her party’s strength, Ms. Soundararajan asserted.
On the local body elections in Tamil Nadu, she said it was wrong to delay the conduct of the polls even after funds had been allotted for the purpose. The lack of elected forums at the local bodies had only hindered development work, she added.
