DMK President Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi wished that the state should stake its claim for Peermedu and Devikulam areas in Idukki district, where the dam is located and bring them under its territory.
“Let us raise our voice raised by Arignar Anna, communist leader Jeevanandam and Ma.Po.Si. and other leaders in 1956 and stake claim for including Peermedu, where the dam is located and Devikulam, the catchment areas, which were once belonged to the Madras Presidency in Tamil Nadu territory,” the DMK President said.
In a statement here, he said the Centre should come forward to correct the mistake committed by then British Governor of Madras Presidency in 1886 and wipe out the injustice done to Tamil Nadu during the partition of states on linguistic basis.
The Tamil Nadu government should also take serious steps to get back the lost territories in Idukki district and include them with Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar said. “Had we got back the territories in 1886 itself, when the King of Trvancore offered the same to avoid any conflicts in future, the Mullaiperiyar dam row would not have reached to this level,” Kalaignar said. Recalling the historical background, Kalaignar said Peermedu, the site selected for building the dam and Devikulam, the catchment area, were under the regime of Pandiya Kingdom till the 12th century. Then it was a part of Poonayaru Tamil princely state called ‘Poorsar’.
Though the areas belonged to Tamils, they were wrongly given to Travancore Princely State and an agreement was reached to this effect in 1886. Historians had pointed out that the agreement between the Travancore Princely State and the British regime had been wrongly entered into without properly assessing the border limits, he said.
The Travancore Princely State had its borders till Arur and Kottarakarai on the Tamil Nadu side, but the British regime had included Peermedu and Devikulam areas and signed the agreement, the DMK leader claimed. Later, realising that the dam site belonged to Tamil Nadu and there might be any conflicts in future, the Travancore Maharaja, had offered to give those areas and suggested that the then British Governor in Chennai take back those areas by giving Rs six lakh.
The Maharaja had twice written to the British Governor and if the Governor had replied to the letters and restored the rights of Tamil Nadu over these areas, the Mullaiperiyar dam row would have come to an end then itself. “Thanks to the mistake committed by the British Governor and due to the wrong approach during the partition of state on linguistic basis, the Mullaiperiyar issue is continuing till now,” the DMK leader said.
Kalaignar said right from the beginning, Economic Experts like B.Natarajan had been stating Peermedu and Devikulam should be included in Tamil Nadu failing which the southern districts of Tamil Nadu would be deprived of water for irrigation and suffer. The warnings issued by the experts, feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu and demands made by DMK and other political parties, have subsequently been ignored, paving way for the problems now, he said.
He said on the occasion of Pongal festival on January 14, 1956, Arignar Anna, in an epistle to partymen, had explained in detail that Peermedu and Devikulam belonged to Tamil Nadu. Later, after consulting Tamilarasu Kazhagam, Communist Party and Praja Socialist Party, Anna had organised a general strike and led a rally in 20 February, 1956 on the issue. Presided over by Justice Party Leader P T Rajan, the rally, participated by lakhs of people, was taken out in Chennai.
Leaders like Anna, Communist Party Leader P. Jeevanandam and Silambu Chelvar Ma Po Sivagnanam took part in the rally, Kalaignar recalled. Later, addressing a public meeting, Anna had said Tamils were unanimous in getting back Peermedu and Devikulam and they had no problem with Keralites.
Anna said, “The three parties DMK, Communist and Tamilarasu Kazhagam say Devikulam – Peermedu belong to Tamils and Socialist Party says in support, PSP says it is just; Dravidar Kazhagam says so.” The funny part is Congress Party also says ‘Devikulam-Peermedu for only Tamils’.
Then with whom is our quarrel? Ours quarrel is only with the inactiveness of some. Cunningness of some and the dual stand of some.
There is no quarrel with Malayalees. But if asked whether Malayalees joined together and said, “We won’t give Devikulam-Peermedu taluks to Tamils”, No! then who refutes? They unanimously passed resolution in the Assembly for including Devikulam-Peermedu with Tamil Nadu.
The Congress Ministry introduced that resolution. All parties in the country demand Devikulam, Peermedu to be annexed to Tamil Nadu. There are none among Tamils who do not demand that. The people of the area have shown to the world and rulers.”
Thereafter the resolution for annexing Devikulam, Peermedu areas with Tamil Nadu was adopted by the DMK General Council meeting at Chidambaram on 29.1.1956, in the Second State Conference of the DMK in Tiruchi on 17, 18, 19, 20.5.1956, in the DMK Election Special Conference on 10.2.1957 held at SIAA Grounds, Chennai and in the following DMK conferences.
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