PC trying to save his face, says Kodiyeri

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Sharply criticising Home Minister P Chidambaram’s statement that the Kerala Governments’s apprehension over the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam was unnecessary and was the result of bypoll  fear, CPM Politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that Chidambaram should quit Union Ministry. Terming the withdrawal of the statement by Chidambaram on Sunday as a face-saving exercise,  Kodiyeri said that the Congress and the Prime minister should demand his resignation. “He is a Union Home Minister and occupying this position he should not have said that the Supreme Court verdict would be in favour of Tamil Nadu. His remark is a breach of oath and the constitutional principles,” he said.  Kodiyeri said that the Congress should make its stand clear on the Mullaperiyar issue.  Congress should intervene to ensure such remarks from Central Ministers would not take place in the future, he said.