Hogenakkal project disappoints Jayalalithaa

Charging Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi with "failing" the people on the Hogenakkal water project, AIADMK chief and Opposition Leader Jayalalithaa on Tuesday demanded his immediate resignation.

After leading a walkout of AIADMK members in the State Assembly during question hour after denial of permission by Speaker R Avidaiyappan over moving a special adjournment motion, she told reporters that resolutions were unanimously passed on Mar 27 (by Local Administration Minister M K Stalin) and on April 1 (by Karunanidhi) for implementation of the project.

"But on April 5, even when the assembly session was on, the Chief Minister issued a unilateral statement, saying that the project had been put on hold till a new popular government was elected in Karnataka," she said.

"While Karunanidhi in a public meeting and in the Assembly categorically asserted that the project would be implemented at any cost, he retracted from his earlier statement by stating that the project would be put on hold. He did this without convening the cabinet or consulting all parties on April 5," she said.

"By stating that the issue would be discussed with the new Karnataka government, is Karunanidhi admitting that the state is vested with the right of deciding a project of our state? He should not have spoken of putting on hold the project," she said, adding that this amounted to betraying the interest of the Tamil people. "So, he should resign."
Further, she said there is a need for a government in the state "with a strong political will".

Earlier, she said the late Chief Minister Kamaraj first proposed the scheme in 1965. AIADMK founder and late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran had named it Kamaraj plan project when he wanted to implement it in 1986, she said, adding that it has been a 40 year long dream of the people of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.