NEWDELHI: On a day when the DMK announced its decision to hold hunger strike across the state on the Mullaperiyar issue, Defence Minister A K Antony met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the dam row which is creating tension between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.Antony, apparently, expressed his concerns over the delay in settling the issue which has started affecting the relations between the two states.“He met the Prime Minister specifically to raise the Mullaperiyar issue and urged him to intervene directly and bring the two states to the table,” said a source close to the Defence Minister.Antony had met the Prime Minister earlier also in this regard and it was after that meeting that Manmohan Singh directed Union Water Resources Minister P K Bansal to convene a meeting of the two states. Accordingly, the Water Resources Ministry sent letters to both states inviting them for a meeting on December 16. Officials in the ministry said that Kerala and Tamil Nadu have expressed their willingness to attend the meeting.However, there are reports that Tamil Nadu has conveyed its unwillingness to take part in the meeting. But, this could not be confirmed by the Union Ministry.Meanwhile, Kerala is planning to send an all-party delegation to New Delhi to raise the matter and has sought appointment with the Prime Minister in this regard.According to sources, Antony has conveyed to the Prime Minister that the issue has taken a political turn in both states and that nobody is willing to budge. Antony also cited various incidents which have marred the relationship between two states.
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