Vijaykant heads the fast on Mullaperiyar Dam issue

Theni, Tamil Nadu, Dec 2 (UNI) The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) President Vijaykant today launched a token fast here on the Mullaperiyar Dam issue.

Leaders, district functionaries and large number of supporters and party workers, took up the fast at all district headquarters, protesting against the Centre as well as, the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Governments.

The fast was undertaken to condemn the inability of the respective state government and the Centre in implementing the Supreme Court order directing increase of water storage level in the Periyar dam from 136 ft to 142 ft.

This was the first agitation, launched by the DMDK, since it came into existence more than a year ago.

Earlier, addressing the gathering, the actor-turned politician lambasted both the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments as well as the Centre for their failure to comply with the apex court directive.

He accused them of playing with the lives of the farmers in the five southern districts of Tamil Nadu whose livelihood was solely dependent on the water from the dam.

As many as 200 volunteers and supporters, including a few women, participated in the fast.

According to party sources, as many as 1100 DMDK activists took part in the fast in Kanniyakumari and 1000 in Tirunelveli.

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