DMK govt will protect TN's interests on Periyar: CM

Chennai, Nov 21 (UNI) Asserting that the DMK government would protect the interests of the state in the Mullaiperiyar Dam issue, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today flayed his predecessor J Jayalalithaa for trying to 'belittle' the decision taken at an all party meeting to hold talks with Kerala to find a solution to the vexed issue.

Reacting to Ms Jayalalithaa's 'outburst' against the state and Central governments and left parties on the issue, he said in a statement here that as the AIADMK agreed to the all-party decision, Ms Jayalalithaa's 'outcry' against it now was ''meaningless.'' He said the all party meeting convened by the state government on October 23 had unanimously decided to hold talks with the Kerala Government in the presence of the Centre as a gesture of goodwill.

The meeting also decided that in the event of failure of talks, the government could again approach the Supreme Court and ensure that water level in the dam was raised from 136 ft to 142 ft, he said.

Two AIADMK leaders who took part in the meeting neither objected to the decisions nor staged a walkout in protest. After sleeping over the issue, Ms Jayalalithaa was suddenly making an 'outburst' in the name of a statement, which was not justifiable, Mr Karunanidhi said.

He said the DMK government, while being keen on ensuring the protection of people of the two states and the interests of farmers and the state, also wanted to respect the apex court, which had suggested that the two states try to resolve the issue through talks in the presence of the Centre.

UNI WS AA VD KP2109