Invoke Article 355, direct Kerala to comply with SC order:TNF

Madurai, Sep 18 (UNI) Nearly 300 people from farming community today staged a demonstration demanding Centre to invoke Article 355 of the Constitution and direct Kerala government to comply with the Supreme Court ruling on reverting the storage level in the Mullaperiyar Dam.

The protest demonstration was organised by the 'Tamil Desiya Munnani' ('Tamil Nationalist Front') in the city.

Speaking on the occasion, Munnani State Convenor P Maniarasan demanded that the Centre should issue a directive to Kerala under Article 355.

''If the Achuthanandan led Government continued to disregard the apex court order, it should be sacked under Article 356 and the Centre should implement the Court order,'' he added.

Criticising the Karunanidhi Government for sleeping over the issue even after a favourable Court order, he alleged that the state government had done little to look into the issue of raising the water level.

The Munnani also threatened to launch a Direct Action Programme soon with a massive padayatra from Paramakudi to the reservoir, if the Centre and the state government fail to take any action in this regard.

Periyar Basin Farmers Association leaders Seeman alias Meenakshisundaram, S Rathinasamy, D Kasinathan and Puthisigamani also addressed the gathering.

UNI CR AJ SP RS1812