The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Vaiko charges Karunanidhi with "betraying" Tamils

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Vaiko charges Karunanidhi with "betraying" Tamils

Staff Reporter

Says increasing dam level is a legitimate right of farmers

MADURAI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko has accused Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi of "betraying" the people of Tamil Nadu in the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

Addressing party workers before commencing the Periyar dam rights protection rally here on Monday, Mr. Vaiko said increasing the water level initially to 142 feet and then to 152 feet, as directed by the Supreme Court, was a legitimate right of farmers in the State.

Listing out instances when Kerala Chief Minister, V.S. Achuthanandan, had tried to "mislead" the people and the Centre by propagating "baseless" information on the dam strength, he said Mr. Karunanidhi neither condemned such moves nor countered them with facts.

"Dereliction of duty"

"Even when Kerala sought to take over the dam, Mr. Karunanidhi did not oppose the atrocious demand. This is a clear dereliction of duty. The silence of the Tamil Nadu Government prompted the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to refer the demand to the ministries concerned," he said. Charging Mr. Karunanidhi with adopting double standards, Mr. Vaiko said while Tamizhar Desiya Iyakkam leader P. Nedumaran and scores of his supporters were taken into custody for blocking traffic on roads leading to Kerala, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionaries were allowed to organise the agitation without being arrested. Attempts to cause damage to the dam would affect the integrity of the country. "Since Mr. Achuthanandan has made it clear that any negotiation will not include the subject of increasing the water level to 142 feet, the ongoing talks between the Public Works Department Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are only an eyewash."

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionary O. Panneerselvam said the Centre and State Governments had failed to implement the court order.

Former Union Minister and MDMK treasurer M. Kannappan presided. The six-day `padayatra' will reach Gudalur in Theni district on December 23.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu