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Centre should ’wake up’ over water issues: TN CM

New Delhi: Calling Tamil Nadu a "water- scarcity" state, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has said the Centre should "wake-up" and uphold its responsibility by resolving the water disputes the state has with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Karunanidhi, here on a two-day visit, said Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have been in a denial mode to release excess water to Tamil Nadu and unity between the states should not be a "one-way traffic". "Unity should not be a one-way traffic. It has to be both ways. Tamil Nadu has all resources but it is a water- scarcity state. Neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka don’t give excess water to us," he said after inaugurating ’Periyar Centre’ in South Delhi. "The Centre should at least wake up now and examine these issues minutely and uphold its responsibility in solving these problems. They should take steps quickly. I am saying this is New Delhi, the country’s capital," he said. Tamil Nadu is involved in water-related rows with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala. Both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have been denying water, which is in excess in the two states, for a long time and has made many people in Tamil Nadu suffer, he said. Referring to Union Minister Farooq Abdullah’s speech in which he asked Karunanidhi to come out of the state and work for the entire country, the Chief Minister said he has been doing whatever he can to the nation from "where I am based. It is not necessary that one has to come here (national politics) and work for the nation." Heaping praises on Dravidian stalwart E V R Periyar, Karunanidhi hoped that the Periyar Centre would educate people in this part of the country about the revolutionary steps Periyar had taken and his preachings. He also announced a donation of Rs five lakh for the Periyar Centre. Calling Karunanidhi a "statesman", Abdullah had asked him to come out of Tamil Nadu and work for the entire nation. "There were many great leaders in this country like Periyar. You are the only living leader of that dimension. A person like you should come out of the state and work for the nation. So that the entire country gets benefited from your service," the New and Renewable Energy Minister said. Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan and several others also participated in the meeting

                                                                                                               
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