Jayalalitha disagreed with Karunanidhi's stand that he had to agree for a deletion of a clause provided for in a draft prepared by the Gujral Government as Karnataka and Kerala opposed it. The clause empowered the Cauvery River Water Authority (CRWA) to take over the maintenance and functioning of reservoirs in a State if it failed to honour the Cauvery Tribunal award.

She said while Karnataka Chief Minister J H Patel was obdurate in his stand not to concede anything as far as his State was concerned, Karunanidhi was throwing to the winds the golden opportunity provided by the Supreme Court, reposing full faith in Prime Minister A B Vajpayee.

Karunanidhi should have fought for retention of the clause instead of letting down the interests of TN, she said.

If Patel stated that it was difficult toimplement the clause, that was Karnataka's standpoint on the issue. On the other hand, the clause, if included, would have been the lifeline of Tamil Nadu. But why is Karunanidhi hesitant to stand up for the State, she questioned. Karunanidhi had claimed that leaders of various parties in Tamil Nadu had agreed at an all-party meeting to delete the vital clause but various leaders who took part in the meeting said it was not true, she said.

Karunanidhi had showered accolades on the Gujral Government's original draft plan, contrary to his present stand. This was sheer opportunism, she stated.