Karur, Apr 24: DMK chief M Karunanidhi today said he would take up the Cauvery issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi when they visit Tamil Nadu for campaigning.

The octagenarian leader, on the campaign trail, told reporters here the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's order to appoint an expert committee to go into crop pattern and water requirements of four riparian states would affect the interest of the state's farmers.

'Already, 15 years have passed (since the inception of the Tribunal). It is not known how many more years they will prolong.' Mr Karunanidhi, heading the Democratic Progressive Alliance in the state, said though the Tribunal's order would not have any impact on the elections in the state, an urgent meeting of DPA allies had been convened in Chennai tomorrow to discuss the issue.

Saying he would inform Ms Gandhi of the matter when she visited the state tomorrow for electioneering, he said everything depended on the decision to be taken at the DPA meet. 'Moreover, Dr Singh is coming to the state on May four. I will speak to him as well on the issue,' he said.

UNI

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