“It is very unfortunate that Chidambaram made a statement. As a home minister, he is not expected to make such statements. It only shows his political immaturity even though he was speaking at an event organised by the Congress,” Ravi told journalists in New Delhi.
While Ravi’s was the strongest reaction to Chidambaram’s remark from within the Congress, other MPs of the ruling party from Kerala have also disapproved the comment.
Oommen Chandy, who heads the Congress-led government in Kerala, criticised the home minister’s remark and said he would take up the matter with the party high-command.
Opposition party in Kerala — the Communist Party of India (Marxist) — asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to drop Chidambaram from the Union Cabinet.
Chidambaram on Sunday withdrew his remarks referring to by-elections in the context of the controversial Mullaperiyar dam issue. “Like some other speakers,” the home minister said: “I also made a passing reference to the forthcoming by-election. I take back that remark.”
“That reference was not necessary and it was not my intention to hurt the feelings of anyone,” said Chidambaram. “I continue to believe that the issue must be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and brotherhood between the people of the two states.”
At an event organised by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in Chennai on Saturday, Chidambaram expressed hope that the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Mullaperiyar dam imbroglio would be in favour of Tamil Nadu.
Referring to reports that Kerala’s protests over Mullaperiyar dam, Chidambaram said: “It is not a fear that came about suddenly, but a fear because of a by-election.”
The Union home minister was apparently referring to the by-poll in Piravom constituency in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, the schedule for which is yet to be announced.
His remark came in the midst of violence and tension in both Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam and efforts by politicians of both the states to cash in on it.
“Unfortunately, Chidambaram’s statement has contradicted the views of the prime minister on the issue. I, as a member of the Union Cabinet, feel very much disappointed over his remarks,” said Ravi.
Ravi said Chidambaram, being a senior leader, should persuade Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha to come to the negotiating table to settle the dam issue with Kerala.
“I appealed to everyone that we must act with dignity, restraint and patience. I said that 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,” Chidambaram said in a statement on Sunday.
