PM asks Kerala to create conducive atmosphere to resolve Mullaperiyar Dam issue

NEW DELHI: In a bid to defuse a volatile situation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked Kerala Government to create a conducive atmosphere for speedy resolution of Mullaperiyar Dam issue following which Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appealed to protesters in the state to call off their agitation.

The Chief Minister's appeal came after an all party delegation led by him and Leader of Opposition V S Achuthanandan met Prime Minister seeking his immediate intervention in persuading Tamil Nadu to settle the issue.

"Prime Minister has assured us that the Government of India will consider our request and take an early decision. To create a good atmosphere in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister requested us to suspend our agitation," Chandy told reporters here after the meeting at Parliament House.

He said the all party delegation has offered the Prime Minister full cooperation from Kerala.

"After the meeting, the leaders discussed the Prime Minister's request in detail and decided to appeal to all political parties and all organisations to create a cordial atmosphere," Chandy said.

Meanwhile, KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala, who was part of the delegation, said Congress has decided to call off its agitation on the issue.

"Considering the request by the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, Congress has decided to stop the agitation to create a conducive atmosphere to amicably settle the issue," Chennithala said.

CPI (M) State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, Muslim League leader P K Kunhalikutty and Kerala Congress (M) leader K M Mani and BJP's K M Radhakrishnan were part of the delegation consisting of leaders of all political spectrum in the state.