Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu today sought the intervention of senior party leader from Kerala and Defence Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, in cooling the tempers in his home State on the Mullaperiyar Dam issue over which the two States have been at loggerheads.
A delegation of Congress MPs met Mr Antony, a three-time former Chief Minister of Kerala, and asked him to play a major role in solving the issue amicably so that there is no problem between the two neighbouring States.
“We sought Antony’s intervention on the Mullaperiyar issue. He is a very senior leader from Kerala. We asked him to cool down the tempers in Kerala so that the issue can be resolved amicably between the two States,” Virudhunagar MP, Mr Manickam Tagore, said.
Tamil Nadu and Kerala have been at loggerheads for some weeks now over the Mullaperiyar issue and sporadic protests have been taken place in border areas in both States.
Yesterday, the Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, Mr O. Pannerselvam, was gheraoed by protesters in Theni after he asked them to withdraw their agitation.
The Congress MPs told Mr Antony that the Kerala Government should wait for the Supreme Court order in this regard before taking any step.
“Antony also agreed with our views. He said both states Should have to wait for the Supreme Court order. He told us that the issue has to be settled amicably so that there are no problems between the two States,” Mr Tagore said.