Political parties speak in one voice

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cutting across party lines, the ruling UDF and the LDF in the state have come together in taking up the cause of the state in the Mullaperiyar Dam issue. The ruling UDF has up the ante on the eve of its two ministers, Water Resource Minister P J Joseph and Revenue Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, leaving for New Delhi on Monday to apprise Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the state’s concern on the Mullaperiyar issue. The team would also meet Union Water Resources Minister Pavan Kumar Bansal, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister A K Antony and convey to them Kerala’s anguish. Two MPs from Kerala, P T Thomas and Jose K Mani, have announced that they would stage a ‘satyagraha’ in front of Parliament on Monday demanding Centre’s intervention in the Mullaperiyar issue. Back in the state, Idukki MLA Roshy Augustine will stage a ‘satyagraha’ in front of the Accountant General’s Office here on Monday while the party activists led by state-district leaders will stage ‘satyagrahas’ in Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts.The ruling UDF and Opposition LDF have called for a 12-hour hartal on Monday in Idukki seeking action. The Left leaders said that they would intensify their agitation if the demands of the state were not met.E S Bijimol MLA of the CPI has already launched an indefinite hunger strike along with the Left activists at Chappathu near Vallakadvu in Idukki.She said that she would continue the strike till the decisions taken at the all-party meeting are not met. “The Centre should take steps immediately against the backdrop of recurring tremors in the region. The water level should be minimised to 120 feet, otherwise it can cause serious damage to the structure of the dam putting lives of thousands in danger,’’ she said.