Madurai: Congress in Tamil Nadu on Saturday struck a defiant pose on the Mullaperiyar dam issue, saying the party was not bothered about who is ruling at the Centre or Kerala, but would continue to protect the interests of the people of the state.
"We are not bothered about who is ruling in Delhi or Kerala. We want Tamil Nadu`s interest protected on the Mullaiperiyar dam. We are firm on that," TNCC President Gnanadesikan said while addressing party workers on "Congress Stand on Mullaiperiyar and Koodankulam issue" He said it would not be possible to bring down the dam`s water level below 136 feet or decommission it as sought by kerala, as several reports had stated the reservoir is quite strong. "Tamil Nadu will have to wait for the Supreme verdict to increase the dam level further."
Gnanadesikan sought to know how the Prime Minister could be blamed for the vexed issue when no party in Tamil Nadu is ready for talks and the only solution was through the court. On problems faced by TamiL Nadu fishermen, allegedly being attacked by Sri Lankan naval personnel, he claimed he was the first to receive a call from fishermen`s associations after taking over as TNCC President, seeking their release.
National Security Advisor ShivShankar Menon had agreed to his suggestion to appoint a separate officer to negotiate the release of fishermen. "The Prime Minister is taking steps to get them released and the good news will come after Pongal," he said. Gnanadesikan alleged that some foreign forces were financing the agitation by the locals against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power plant and demanded that the government find out how funds are being sent to these organisations.
The State and Centre should work together and start the plant, from which Tamil Nadu would get 990 MW of the total generation of 2000 MW, he said. PTI