MADURAI: Dismantling the Mullaiperiyar Dam would be equal to breaking of the nation’s sovereignty, said MDMK general secretary Vaiko while participating in a hunger strike called by the party at Kalavasal here on Wednesday.He warned the Kerala government to never attempt to demolish the dam as it would have a countereffect, which would affect the people of that State.Coming down heavily on the Kerala government, Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act 2006 and the Union government that drafted the Dam Safety Bill, Vaiko said Kerala was attempting to dismantle the Mullaiperiyar dam through false propaganda regarding dam safety. “No other dam in the world has 200 feet width and no other dam has been constructed with such exceptional technology. Kerala should think that breaking the dam and endangering the source of livelihood of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu will endanger their own welfare as most of the food items to that State were supplied from this part of Tamil Nadu,” Vaiko said.Blocking all the connecting roads from Tamil Nadu to Kerala before Onam festival would let them understand the impact, the MDMK leader said. He said if Kerala government was not ready to mend its ways on the dam issue, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa should take measures to announce the economic blockade.Criticising the Centre for its indifference in the matter and the proposed Dam Safety Bill, Vaiko charged that the Congress-led UPA government was giving teeth to the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act and it was against the Supreme Court verdict on the dispute over dam. “If every State can chart such kind of bills, not even allowing the courts to intervene, then what is the function of the Centre and Supreme Court?” Vaiko wondered.Vaiko asked whether it would be alright to acquire the Union Government agencies functioning in Tamil Nadu, if Kerala could break the dam stating its Act. “We will be very happy to have the Ordnance Factory in Tiruchy and the Tank Factory in Avadi to help our Eelam people”, he said in a lighter note. Appreciating the Chief Minister’s move expressing her agitation over the Dam Safety Bill, Vaiko said when he met the Prime Minister, he quoted the letter of the Chief Minister and said his party was always ready to support the State government in this struggle. Pazha Nedumaran who delivered the valedictory address, stated that the attitude of Centre was worse than of the Kerala State. Periyar Dravida Kazhagam president Kolathur Mani inaugurated the strike.
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