New Delhi:
Home Minister P Chidambaram has withdrawn his remarks referring to by-elections in the context of the Mullaperiyar dam issue which has created a furore in Kerala.
"Like some other speakers, I also made a passing reference to the forthcoming by-election. I take back that remark," he said in a statement in New Delhi today.
In his speech yesterday, the Home Minister had termed the Kerala government's apprehension over safety of the Mullaperiyar dam as "unnecessary" and claimed it was borne out of "by-poll fear".
Mr Chidambaram today said, "That reference was not necessary and it was not my intention to hurt the feelings of anyone. I continue to believe that the issue must be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and brotherhood between the people of the two states."
The Home Minister also appealed to the people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to read the whole of his speech delivered at a Congress Party meeting in Chennai yesterday.
"I appeal to everyone that we must act with dignity, restraint and patience. I said fears over the safety of the dam were not justified but it was our duty to allay the apprehensions on the safety of the dam," the statement said.
Chidambaram said, "I said that the safety of the dam was the concern of not only Kerala but also Tamil Nadu, because Tamil Nadu was dependent on the water from the dam. I also appealed to everyone to await the report of the three-judge panel and the decision of the Supreme Court".
This comment had immediately invited strong criticism from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who has said that he would complain to the Congress High Command over Mr Chidambaram's statement.
"A Union Minister like Chidambaram should not have made such a statement. We view this very seriously. We will inform the Congress High Command about this," Mr Chandy said on Saturday. (
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Other leaders too in Kerala reacted sharply to Chidamabaram's statement.
CPM leader and state Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan wanted Chidambaram to be dropped from the Union Cabinet.
Congress MPs from Kerala MI Shanawas and PT Thomas, senior party leader V M Sudheeran, CPM Politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and former water resources minister and RSP leader NK Premachandran also slammed Chidambaram's statement.