AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Tuesday accused Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi of wasting public money in the name of Classical Tamil Conference when farmers in the State were in deep distress as they were not able to cultivate the kuruvai crop.
In a statement, Ms. Jayalalithaa said for the second year in succession the farmers were not able to cultivate kuruvai and only 53,000 ha had been covered against the normal 3 lakh ha. In Cauvery delta area, the cultivation has been done only on 14,000 ha.
“The area of cultivation was drastically reduced because Karnataka refused to release water,” she added.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said when she was the Chief Minister of the State she would raise the issue in the Cauvery River Authority meeting and Karnataka would counter her argument by saying that Tamil Nadu should give up kuruvai and stick to samba.
“Mr. Karunanidhi is also aware of Karnataka's argument. That is why he is remaining silent. There is a suspicion that by his silence he was obliging Karnataka,” she alleged. Ms. Jayalalithaa said though three years had passed since the tribunal gave its final judgment, no effort had been taken by the Tamil Nadu to notify the order and its implementation.
She said the power cut in the State was also one of the reasons for fall in the area of kuruvai cultivation.
“Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is spending so much time overseeing the arrangement for the conference. Instead, he could meet Karnataka Chief Minister and persuade him to release water. Is the conference necessary when the farmers are groping in the dark?” she asked.
