TN govt lethargic on Kudankulam plant: DMK

Chennai: The Opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu on Friday passed 24 resolutions at its General Council meeting, with none, however, on the 2G case. The DMK slammed the Centre and the state government for being lethargic in solving the Kudankulam crisis.

The 24-pointer party resolution stated, among others, that the Centre and state should expedite solution for the stalled nuclear plant.

"The Centre and state are lethargic in solving Kudankulam crisis. There seems to be a hidden agenda in Jayalalithaa's inaction. There seems to be no headway in expert group talks," the resolution said.

The DMK also raised the pitch on Mullaperiyar dam issue demanding that Kerala restore the area, where the reservoir is located, to Tamil Nadu.

The DMK General Council, its top decision-making body, met in Chennai against the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict on 2G spectrum scam where the apex court had pointedly blamed former Telecom Minister A Raja, its senior leader.

The meeting noted there was no headway between a Central Expert Committee and the protesters over the Indo-Russian Koodankulam nuclear power project which is stalled over safety concerns of locals.

"The Jayalalithaa government not taking any action in this matter gives rise to an impression that there is some intention on its part... therefore, keeping in mind national interests, the central and state governments should act to find an early solution," the council, presided over by party chief M Karunanidhi, said.

The council also asked the Centre to act fast on the Mullaperiyar dam row and attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan Navy.

DMK, a key ally of UPA, warned of an agitation if the Centre failed to act on the fishermen issue.

Referring to a recent statement by Karunanidhi where he had voiced DMK's demand for retrieving Devikulam and Peermedu taluks with Tamil Nadu from Kerala to solve the vexed Mullaperiyar issue, the General Council termed the proposal as a solution that would be 'just' with 'long-term vision.'

"The Centre should implement this with the help of the state government and find a lasting solution to the issue and thus uphold the nation's unity and federal structure," it said.

However, all eyes are presently on DMK chief Karunanidhi's two sons, MK Alagiri and MK Stalin, as party sources say tensions between the two have escalated.

With additional information from PTI