PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss continuing his padayatra on Kallanai in Thanjavur district on Saturday.

| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Pattali Makkal Katchi president Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday appealed to the youth of Tamil Nadu to take to the streets to protect the rights of the State over the Cauvery.Addressing the media at Kallanai, Dr.Anbumani, who was on a ‘padayatra’ against the Karnataka government’s move to build a dam across Cauvery river at Mekedatu, said that Tamil Nadu would be starved of even drinking water if the Upper Riparian State were to achieve its aim.“It was you who volunteered to save the Tamilian’s sport of ‘jallikattu’ by taking the issue to the streets. Now it is high time that you once again spill over to the streets to save our land from becoming dry land in future,” he told the youths.Stating that most of political outfits in Tamil Nadu were keen on saving their position in current day politics, Mr.Anbumani said that if the Gen Z youth took this issue to the streets the political parties would follow suit.Dr. Anbumani also urged the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to convene an all-party meeting. “The Chief Minister should take all the MLAs and MPs of Tamil Nadu to New Delhi and meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to insist that Karnataka should not be allowed to build the dam at the cost of Tamil Nadu people”, Mr.Anbumani said.“If positive signals do not emerge, then Tamil Nadu MLAs and MPs should not hesitate to stage protests in support of our demand in New Delhi”, he added.Meeting at PoompuharLater in the evening, Mr.Anbumani Ramadoss concluded his four-day yatra at Poompuhar where the Cauvery joins the sea. He started his four-day padayatra from Biligundulu, where the Cauvery enters Tamil Nadu. He urged the people of Tamil Nadu to come together to raise their voice against the move to build a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu and mount pressure on the Centre to prevent Karnataka from going ahead with its plan.Addressing a public meeting, Mr. Anbumani said protecting the Tamil Nadu’s right over the Cauvery waters was the foremost issue in the State now. “But there is still not much understanding on the issue and the danger posed by the conspiracy of Karnataka to deny the Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. It is not an issue concerning the Cauvery delta alone though the region would be the worst hit if the dam was built. About 5.5 crore people of the State are dependent on the Cauvery for irrigation and drinking water needs. How can we remain silent when Karnataka plans to block the river water flowing into Tamil Nadu by building a huge dam at Mekedatu?” he asked. Published - July 04, 2026 09:27 pm IST