Karunanidhi too seeks central forces at Mullaperiyar dam site

DMK president M Karunanidhi on Sunday joined arch-rival and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa in seeking central security forces to protect Mullaperiyar dam and flayed Kerala's attempts to "create fear and panic" in the minds of its people over the issue.

In a telegram to Justice AS Anand, Chairman of the Supreme Court Empowered Committee on Mullaperiyar, he flayed Kerala's attempts to "create fear and panic in the minds of people of their people over the issue".

He said CISF cover, instead of state police, should be provided at the site until the issue is settled.

"Until the issue is settled, the dam site should be guarded by the Central security forces instead of the Kerala State Police," he said.

He demanded that the Supreme Court's order of 2006, directing Kerala to increase water level from 136 ft to 142 ft "be implemented with immediate effect".

The DMK patriarch requested the Committee not to accept the Kerala government's request to reduce the water level at the dam from 136 ft to 120 ft.