UNI

Chennai, Mar 14: The BJP today expressed support to the proposed fast by AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa on the Cauvery issue, saying it would strengthen Tamil Nadu's stand on the vexed matter.

Addressing a press conference here, party National Secretary S Thirunavukkarasar dismissed as ''incorrect'' criticisms that the AIADMK supremo had announced the fast to derive political mileage and it would weaken the state's stand on the issue.

Pointing out that all political parties in Karnataka were united in opposing both the interim and final awards of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, he urged the ruling DMK to take the opposition's agitation in a constructive and positive manner.

"The AIADMK's agitation would help in highlighting the gravity of the problem at the national level," he said.

Referring to the demonstration staged by the ruling party in front of the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission to condemn the attacks on Tamil fishermen, Mr Thirunavukkarasar urged the DMK to organise such agitations for the Cauvery issue as well.

Toeing the line of Jayalalithaa, the BJP leader also urged the State Government to take immediate steps for filing a review petition before the Tribunal and also notify the final award in the Gazette.

He said the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's contention that the state could not prefer an appeal before the Tribunal once the final award was Gazetted was not correct.

"The Gazette notification would at minimum guarantee the quantum of water allocated to Tamil Nadu in the final award," he said and added that there would not be any legal impediment in going for an appeal after the notification.

The BJP leader charged that the Centre was hesitating to Gazette the final award due to pressure from the Karnataka Government.

"Tamil Nadu should not toe Karnataka's line by not insisting on Gazette notification of the award," he stressed.