From Cauvery to Jallikattu, O Panneerselvam gives long list of demands to PM Modi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in New Delhi and placed a charter of demands including formation of Cauvery Mangement Board to allowing Jallikattu or traditional bull run.

 

In the memorandum presented to the Prime Minister, O Panneerselvam asked central government to form Cauvery Management Board immediately.

 

He wrote, "The Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee must be constituted immediately in accordance with the Final Order of the Tribunal. It must be noted that earlier, in no case was the constitution of the implementation machinery for implementation of Awards of Tribunals placed before the Parliament by the Government of India. Hence, it appears neither appropriate nor fair for Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India to now take a different stand on constituting the Cauvery Management Board, which is an integral part of the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal."

 

He also raised concerns about the Mekedatu scheme of the Karnataka government. "The Government has consistently urged the Government of India to advise the Government of Karnataka not to take up  even the investigation of the Mekedatu Project without the consent of Government of Tamil Nadu and till the Cauvery Management Board becomes functional. I request the Government of India to advise Government of Karnataka not 

to proceed with the project or any preparatory activities including project feasibility reports, as this would violate the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal," stated the document.

   

OPS also wrote in detail about problems face by Tamil Nadu's fishermen. He stated that since May, 2014, there have been 89 incidents in which 1097 Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu were apprehended and 192 fishing boats were seized by the Sri Lankan Navy. 

 

He asked the Central government to secure the release of the fishermen and boats at the earliest.  "Further, the Government of India must take all efforts to protect the traditional fishing rights of the Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu in the Palk Bay area and ensure their safety and security by restraining the Sri Lankan Navy from harassing them," it stated. 

 

He also asked for Rs.10,000 crores in the next few years for modernization of Police Force.

 

In the present economic scenario, the loss of revenue from implementation of GST could affect both the States and the Centre, stated the memorandum.  "The States also get other transfers of funds from the Centre, both as devolution based on Finance Commission recommendations and as the Central share of funds for Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Even within the GST framework, the quantum of funds required for compensating the States, could be much higher than what was originally contemplated. In this context, the Government of Tamil Nadu would like to strongly emphasize that under the Constitutional framework of fiscal federalism, there is a necessity for the Centre to ensure that other transfers of resources from the Centre to the States are not affected while compensating the States for GST implementation,"it said. 

 

Chief Minister also asked for the remaining flood management programme fund to be released. "The Government of India has so far has released only Rs.59.82 crores out of Rs 613 cr. The State Government has spent the remaining expenditure from its own funds," stated the document.  

 

OPS demanded that the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India should clearly denotify bulls as "performing animals". He also wants a new clause added in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 specifically exempting Jallikattu in addition to other exemptions already provided in the Act.  

 

He also requested the central government to take all possible steps to ensure that the process of democratic decentralization of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, is expedited. 

 

He also urged the central government to permit such refugees to hold dual citizenship of both India and Sri Lanka so that they could take up employment and business in India without any hindrance.