I don’t think Centre will frame Cauvery scheme as mandated by Supreme Court: Thambidurai

Uncharacteristic of them, AIADMK MPs have been among those who are vociferously protesting and stalling proceedings of Parliament for over a week. The AIADMK’s grouse is over what it considers the delay in the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). In a telephonic interview with The Hindu on March 13, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai regarded as the party’s point person in New Delhi, explains reasons behind his party’s approach position on the matter. Excerpts:

Why is your party adopting an aggressive approach?

The [CMB] issue is of extreme importance to Tamil Nadu. The State’s interests hinge on it. When the [final] order of the [Cauvery Water Disputes] Tribunal was notified in the gazette,

Amma [former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa], addressing a meeting in Thanjavur [in March 2013], called it her biggest achievement in her life. When our leader had made such a statement, it is our duty to fulfil her vision. This is why we are pressuring the Centre to form the CMB.

Besides, people of Tamil Nadu are expecting MPs to fight for their rights and secure them. Otherwise, they would not believe us.

This time, when our party has 50 members in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, is it not our duty to fight and get justice for Tamil Nadu? When an ally of the BJP such as the Telugu Desam Party is coming to the well of the House on issues concerning Andhra Pradesh, is it not our duty to raise our voice and make our point?

Let me say this also: Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK are demanding our resignation. They should understand that the people have elected us to serve them for five years and highlight in the Parliament important issues. If we resign, the people will question us why did you quit instead of fighting for their rights in the proper forum - Parliament.

The Opposition is not serious and sincere about the Cauvery issue. Why is it that these parties have not mobilised people in support of the State’s stand on the Cauvery, just as we did in the case of ‘jallikattu?’

Your party was not aggressive in Parliament when Jayalalithaa was alive….

When Amma was aggressive, there was no need for us to be so. On the GST and a host of other issues, she had opposed the Centre. Now, she is not with us. Whatever she had wanted us to do, we are trying to accomplish us.

Should you have to continue with your agitation when the Centre held a meeting of Chief Secretaries of the Cauvery basin States to take steps to frame a scheme?

They [Central government] are doing all these only keeping an eye on coming Karnataka Assembly elections. I do not think they are going to [frame a scheme] within six weeks, the time frame set by the Supreme Court. I have my own reservations.

Is the ongoing protest aimed at dispelling the perception that the AIADMK is the BJP’s “B” team?

On the GST, which the BJP is celebrating as a great achievement, we were the only party to stage a walk out in the Parliament and did not support. It is on record. We also strongly opposed instant triple talaq bill. On the language issue, I raised our stand several times in the presence of Prime Minister. It was only on certain common issues that we gave our support to the government, that too when sought. It is all issue-based support.

Did not you support the BJP during the elections for President and Vice-President?

What is wrong in supporting a Dalit for the post of President and a south Indian, who hails from Andhra Pradesh and is more or less a resident of Chennai, for Vice President?

The Congress too put up a Dalit candidate [Meira Kumar] for President’s post...

It was the BJP which had approached us first. We go by the principle of first come, first served. The Congress had announced its nominee much later.