M'periyar: PM help sought on TN police presence

Kochi, Apr 5: Parliamentarian P C Thomas today sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention into the issue of presence of Tamil Nadu police in the adjoining places of Mullaperiyar dam.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr Thomas said Tamil Nadu had no right to supervise or inspect the dam which was the primary property of Kerala.

Tamil Nadu's demand to deploy CISF for the security of the dam was against the spirit of the federal system of the country, he said.

Mr Thomas said contempt of court charges should be framed against the neighbouring state for unheeding the Supreme Court's order that the Mullaperiyar issue should be resolved through talks between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The Lok Sabha member said his party, Kerala Congress, would bring to the notice of the Prime Minister and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the issue of demarcation for the Salem Division.

He alleged that the free trade agreement with the SAARC countries would adversely affect the farmers interest in the country.

UNI