Karunanidhi urges PM to stop Kerala's ''unlawful acts''

Chennai, Nov 23 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop the Kerala government's ''unlawful'' activities like sending naval personnel to inspect the safety of the Mullaiperiyar Dam.

In a letter to Dr Singh, a copy of which was released to the media here, Mr Karunanidhi said naval officers from Cochin were proceeding to inspect the dam on the request of Kerala government and it was appropriate that the Centre immediately step in and stop such ''unlawful acts.'' Pointing out that Kerala government had resorted to such acts ahead of the Chief Ministerial level talks convened by the Centre on November 29, Mr Karunanidhi said, 'If Kerala continues to indulge in such unfair and provocative actions, it is not possible for Tamil Nadu to participate in the talks.'' He said Tamil Nadu might have to approach the Supreme Court and place all happenings that had occurred after its orders on February 27 and its observations on September 25.

Mr Karunanidhi said ''It is astonishing to note that the Kerala government has taken unilateral action to deliberately interfere with the safety of the dam without taking any permission from Tamil Nadu.'' Any activity of this type is not in order, when the Supreme Court has categorically observed that the dam is safe to store water upto 142 ft. in its judgment on February 27,'' he said.

Mr Karunanidhi said the ''intimidating and precipitating'' action of Kerala, just on the eve of talks between the two states under the auspices of the Centre, was totally unwarranted and uncalled for.

Asked whether he spoke to the Prime Minister over phone on the issue, Mr Karunanidhi told mediapersons his letter would have reached Dr Singh by now.

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