Chidambaram's remarks on dam issue stirs hornet's nest

CHENNAI/THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today termed Kerala's apprehension over safety of the Mullaperiyar dam as "unnecessary" and linked it to "bypoll fear", setting off strong protests from Kerala with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy saying he would complain to the Congress high command.

"It is an unnecessary fear. It is not even a temporary or a permanent fear. It is only a bypoll fear," Chidambaram said in the midst of the ongoing war of words between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the dam issue.

Chidambaram, who was apparently referring to the upcoming Assembly bypoll to Piravom constituency in Kerala, said the problem would not have arisen if the Election Commission had conducted the bypoll to the seat, suggesting the issue had been raked up for political reasons.

Speaking at a function in Chennai, Chidambaram also said "the dam was built for Tamil Nadu and the water from it is meant for us...for the five districts in Tamil Nadu. If they (Kerala) fear it will collapse, we too have the responsibility to protect it," he said.

Chidambaram's comments drew the ire of leaders of both Congress-led UDF and CPIM-headed LDF from Kerala.

"The first thing that we are going to do is to complain to the high command.We will convey the protest of the Government and the party (state unit) against Chidambaram's statement," Chandy told reporters at Kottayam.

He said Kerala had never taken a "unilateral stand" on the issue without consulting others.