DMK's meet on Cauvery ignored by AIADMK, others

Chennai: DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Tuesday presided over an "all-party meeting" to discuss the Cauvery issue but most major parties in the state gave it a miss.

The ruling AIADMK, the BJP, the Left parties as well as the DMDK of Vijayakanth and the MDMK led by Vaiko kept away from the meeting held at the DMK headquarters.

Asked why so many parties failed to attend, Stalin told the media: "I had invited all parties, including the AIADMK. You ask them as to why they did not attend." 

He said he convened an "all-party meeting" as the government was not calling one even after the Karnataka government took a tough stand on the Cauvery issue.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who is now ailing, had ignored all demands for an all-party meeting.

Stalin said it was vital to present a united face of Tamil Nadu to the central government. 

Leaders of farmers` associations attended the meeting. The only political parties which responded to Stalin`s invitation were the Congress and the IUML, the DMK`s traditional allies.

The breakaway Tamil Maanila Congress also attended the meeting.

The meeting passed a resolution calling for an immediate session of the Tamil Nadu assembly to pressurize the central government.

It also urged the Tamil Nadu government to compensate the farmers for the losses they have suffered on account of insufficient Cauvery water