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NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 4:

        The President of the State unit of the BJP, L Ganesan, today said the Union government should take over the entire administration of the Mullaiperiyar dam besides its security.

        Addressing presspersons here, the BJP leader said he had urged even during the all-party meeting on Mullaiperiyar issue convened by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi that a joint security mechanism involving both Tamilnadu and Kerala should be in place at the dam site.

        'Now those doubts have come true. The parapet wall has been damaged,' Ganesan said and welcomed the plea of Karunanidhi urging Central forces at the dam site.

        The BJP leader also wanted the Central government to take over the complete administration of the dam besides providing security and opined that 'there is no use in continuing talks with Kerala'. The Tamilnadu government should go to the Supreme Court for legal resolution of the dispute.

        Referring to the murder of a Hindu activist in Tenkasi, Ganesan said 'the Tamilnadu government should give a solatium of Rs.5 lakh to the slain Hindu Munnani leader of Tenkasi, Kumar Pandian,' He also wanted the spouse of the slain leader be given a government job on compassionate grounds. The BJP leader would also try and meet the Chief Minister on the issue.

        'Social events and celebrations should be based on the nation's culture,' Ganesan said and added that the revelry for the 'arrival of the new year,' only caused doubts whether such events lead to cultural degradation. 'This should not be allowed. By launching an information campaign a social change should be facilitated'.

        On the new Value Added Tax (VAT) regime in the State, he said it is now being accepted by all sections of people. Traders whose annual income is upto Rs.10 lakh get an exemption. 'This should be increased to Rs.30 lakh to protect and save small traders,' the BJP leader said and urged the State government to call trade bodies including the Vanigar Peravai headed by Vellayan for bringing an end to the standoff.

        The executive committee meeting of the district and State level functionaries of the party would be held at Tiruchi on 6 and 7 January. A public meeting would also be held on the closing day of the brain storming session and it would be addressed by senior leader Venkiah Naidu.

        The meeting would focus on the spiralling prices of essential commodities and the internal security situation in the country.

        The same would be the theme of about 1000 meetings the party would hold throughout the State including the one in Mint Street in the city which would be addressed by former Union Minister and senior leader Murali Manohar Joshi.