THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the Mullaperiyar issue is continuing to make headlines along with the recurring mild and medium tremors in Idukki and Kottayam districts, Kerala Congress (M) is making an all-out bid to emerge centrestage by intensifying its campaign on the issue by announcing a series of fasts at various places including the national and state capitals on Monday.A day-long fast will be staged by Jose K Mani MP in front of the Parliament and Idukki MLA Roshy Augustine will go on fast in front of the Accountant-General’s Office here on Monday. Party activists led by state-district leaders will also go on fast in Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts. The fasts will coincide with the scheduled meeting of Water Resources Minister P J Joseph and Revenue Minister Tiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and various central ministers, including Defence Minister A K Antony and Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal. Over and above the voice of the UDF and the coalition government, the general feeling which has dawned in the Kerala Congress was to assert itself on the issue. This was evident, as reported by ‘Express’, ever since P J Joseph took a belligerent stand on the Mullaperiyar issue, followed by party supremo K M Mani’s full support to him. The regional outfit has cleverly timed its moves even when critics allege that the group is trying to sensationalise the issue for gaining political ends. An all-party meet convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also reiterated Kerala’s long- standing demand for a new dam in Mullaperiyar, which has come in handy for the Kerala Congress(M).The latest series of tremors in places adjacent to the more than-a-century-old dam yesterday, has also added to Kerala Congress adopting a tough stance. Obviously, the latest developments is a boon politically for the leader-centric and region-specific party, as the Mullaperiyar issue has developed grave ramifications due to recurring tremors and has become a rallying people residing on the course of River Periyar.The high-level meet of the Kerala Congress held at Aluva on Sunday night, presided over by party supremo and finance minister K M Mani and attended by P J Joseph decided to have no let up in its campaign. The meeting was to take stock of the situation and draft a future course of action if the meeting with the Centre failed to bear fruit, “Self-defence is allowed in any law. Over the Mullaperiyar issue,it is the self-defence of 30-40 lakh people living downstream areas which is in focus. Kerala has been reassuring Tamil Nadu that waters will be given to it without fail but the safety of people here could not be compromised, especially in the background of recurring tremors. The Centre should not take into account Tamil Nadu politics or such issues at this moment. It has to intervene immediately and facilitate Kerala’s demand to build a new dam in its own territory in lieu of the existing one,at our own expense,’’ Mani told ‘Express’.
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