DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday said there was nothing new in the issues raised by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when she met him in New Delhi on Tuesday. He termed her dossier of demands just “old wine in new bottle.”
Ms. Jayalalithaa >presented a similar list of demands to Mr. Modi in New Delhi after he took over in 2014, and >during their meeting in Chennai in 2015 as well, he noted.
In a statement, Mr. Karunanidhi said the demands included constituting a Cauvery Management Board, stopping Karnataka from constructing a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu and seeking funds for State projects, including in the power sector.
He said:
“We can easily understand that these demands have not been fulfilled, from the fact that they are being repeatedly taken up [with Mr. Modi].
"After demands are made with the Centre, 'political and administrative pressure' has to be exerted to ensure they are fulfilled, as State Ministers have to call on their Union counterparts and officials. That the Chief Minister has put forth the same pleas made two years back, one is reminded of the saying — old wine in a new bottle.”