Tamil Nadu not toeing IB on LTTE in dam row, SC to be told

Chennai: Buckling under opposition pressure, the Tamil Nadu government today said it would file a petition in the Supreme Court stating that it does not agree with an Intelligence Bureau assessment on the LTTE vis-a-vis the vulnerability and threat to the Mullaperiyar dam.

The State also denied making any allegations against the LTTE in its recent petition in the apex court, seeking Central security to the dam.

"An additional petition will be filed in the apex court that Tamil Nadu does not accept an assessment of the Intelligence Bureau with regard to the LTTE," Tamil Nadu Finance and PWD Minister O Panneerselvam said here.

In its petition, Tamil Nadu will apprise the Supreme Court that it agreed with the assessment of IB only in regard to the LeT, JeM, Naxals and not LTTE over the dam issue.

In a recent plea in the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu had cited an Intelligence Bureau report of September 2014 to strengthen its request for Central security to the dam.

The IB report referred to vulnerability and threats from "Islamist terror outfits, remnant cadres of LTTE and Naxals" and had advised precautionary measures.

Taking exception, DMK chief M Karunanidhi had criticized the Tamil Nadu government for "dragging LTTE's" name in its plea in the Supreme Court.

Hitting out at DMK chief, Panneerselvam said the Tamil Nadu government did not level any charges against LTTE as claimed by Karunanidhi in its petition in the Supreme Court.

"Even the IB did not specifically say that LTTE (remnants) will cause damage to the dam," he said.

"This has however led to unnecessary debates and bitterness."

"Since Amma's regime which is supportive of Sri Lankan Tamils is blamed, an additional petition will be filed in the Supreme Court on the advice of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa," he added.

In the recent petition, Tamil Nadu had only brought to notice that the Intelligence Bureau had strongly recommended replacement of the Kerala Police with that of CISF or CRPF to guard the dam, he pointed out.

IB had made the recommendations in its Industrial Security Inspection Report on Mullaperiyar Dam and Periyar Hydro Electric Project of September 2014.