Mullaperiyar dam issue: OPS urges Tamil Nadu CM Stalin to convene all-party meeting, slams suspension of Kerala chief wildlife warden

CHENNAI: AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam on Saturday urged Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin to convene an all-party meeting and take a unanimous decision on the Mullaperiyar dam in the wake of Kerala causing obstructions in strengthening the baby dam as per the Supreme Court orders.
In a statement, Panneerselvam said the chief minister should immediately intervene and question the impediments of the Kerala government that had been on for many years and urge the latter to withdraw cancellation of an order granting permission to Tamil Nadu for felling trees since the Supreme Court ruled that Kerala should not interfere in strengthening the baby dam.
“On behalf of the AIADMK, I urge the chief minister to convene an all-party meeting to take the next step on this issue, take up Kerala’s action against Tamil Nadu before the Supreme Court and not to hold any talks on the new dam,” the former chief minister said.
Panneerselvam said that there was an impression among the people that the ruling party and its alliance partners were supportive of Kerala. While there could be differences of opinion among political parties, the MLAs and MPs had the responsibility to raise voice for state’s rights.
“Maintaining silence on this issue is equivalent to mortgaging the rights of the state,” he said, urging the state to place strong arguments before the Supreme Court on Saturday when the case was slated for hearing.
He said the suspension of principal chief conservator of forests/chief wildlife warden by the Kerala government, who was only implementing the court orders and granting permission to remove trees, was not only condemnable but also contempt of court.
The AIADMK leader expressed surprise over the silence of Stalin about the latest developments after thanking his Kerala counterpart, Pinarayi Vijayan for permitting the Tamil Nadu water resources department to remove the trees. Water resources minister S Duraimurugan also gave a wishy-washy reply that it was an internal matter of another state. “The DMK allies are also hesitant to speak. Isn't it a betrayal against Tamils and Tamil Nadu for staying quiet on the issue that is the lifeline of Tamil Nadu?” OPS said, urging the DMK allies to think over it.