DMK slams UPA, AIADMK on KNPP, ups ante on Mullaperiyar

Chennai, Feb 3: The DMK on Thursday charged the Centre and AIADMK government with being ''lethargic'' in solving the Koodankulam nuclear plant row and raised the pitch on Mullaperiyar dam issue demanding that Kerala restore the area, where the reservoir is located, to Tamil Nadu.

The DMK General Council, its top decision-making body, met here against the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict on 2G spectrum scam where the apex court had pointedly blamed former Telecom Minister A Raja, its senior leader.

The meeting noted there was no headway between a Central Expert Committee and the protesters over the Indo-Russian Koodankulam nuclear power project which is stalled over safety concerns of locals.

"The Jayalalithaa government not taking any action in this matter gives rise to an impression that there is some intention on its part... therefore, keeping in mind national interests, the central and state governments should act to find an early solution," the council, presided over by party chief M Karunanidhi, said.

The council also asked the Centre to act fast on the Mullaperiyar dam row and attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan navy.

DMK, a key ally of UPA, warned of an agitation if the Centre failed to act on the fishermen issue.

Referring to a recent statement by Karunanidhi where he had voiced DMK's demand for retrieving Devikulam and Peermedu taluks with Tamil Nadu from Kerala to solve the vexed Mullaperiyar issue, the General Council termed the proposal as a solution that would be 'just' with 'long-term vision.'

"The Centre should implement this with the help of the state government and find a lasting solution to the issue and thus uphold the nation's unity and federal structure," it said.

PTI