Home Minister P Chidamabram has withdrawn his remarks referring to by-elections in the context of the Mullaiperiyar dam issue.

The Home Minister today said that it was not his intention to hurt the feelings of anyone. He said fears over the safety of the dam are not justified but it is the government's duty to allay all such apprehensions.

The Home Minister appealed to the people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to read the whole of his speech delivered at a Congress Party meeting in Chennai yesterday. Mr. Chidamabram said that the Mullaiperiyar dam row must be resolved in a spirit of cooperation and brotherhood between the people of the two states.