Appreciating Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for his efforts in passing jallikattu ordinance and over Krishna river water issue, Congress leader E V K S Elangovan today asked him to take steps for halting building of check dams across Bhavani river by Kerala.
Addressing a press meet here, he praised Panneerselvam for the efforts taken for conduct of jallikattu and for meeting Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu to get Krishna water to Tamil Nadu.
"In a similar manner, Panneerselvam should lead a delegation of officials and representatives of political parties to meet Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and stop construction of check dams across River Bhavani," he said.
Thanking the students and others for protesting in support of jallikattu in a peaceful manner, Elangovan, a former TNCC president, condemned the police action against the protesters.
He urged the Tamil Nadu government to constitute a judicial enquiry commission headed by a retired or current Supreme Court judge to go into the violent incidents.
Such an inquiry was necessary to ascertain whether anti-socials and mischief mongers infiltrated the protesting crowd at Marina Beach in Chennai, as claimed by the state government and police, he said.
On reported seating of Panneerselvam along with other party MLAs at a meeting chaired by AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala, he said "It is totally an insult and disrespect shown to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu".
Though it was an inner-party meeting, the AIADMK chief should provide 'proper respect' to the chief minister by providing a seat adjacent to her in the podium, he added.
Charing that the BJP manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh elections mentioned support of some castes and communities, he wanted the Election Commission to bar the party from contesting the coming polls.
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Meanwhile in Coimbatore, about 400 persons of various
political parties and outfits were today prevented from crossing into Kerala to protest the construction of check dams across Bhavani river.
Several political parties and farmers' bodies had announced their decision to enter Thekkapatti in the neighbouring state, to stage picketing.
Even before the agitators arrived at Anaikatty on Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, security was beefed up and the border was sealed, thus preventing their entry into that state.
Later, the activists were arrested, police said.
Volunteers from DMK, Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhakam, Kongu Ilangar Peravai, Tamil Puli, Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement participated in the protest, they said.
The protesters alleged that the construction work would affect the water flow to Erode, Coimbatore and Tirupur districts, leading to acute shortage for water meant for drinking and irrigation purpose.
