The AIADMK chief Jayalalitha accused the ruling DMK government of not having dealt with the Mullaperiyar issue in a responsible manner. Ms Jayalalitha on wednesday said that the claims by the government, that it was taking appropriate steps to prevent Kerala from building the dam was merely an attempt to 'cheat people'. Referring to the address of the Tamil Nadu governor Surjit Singh Barnala in the  State Assembly, she said that the absence of any clarifications on issues like Cauvery or Palar leaves the doubt whether the government has planned any proper strategy to address these issues. “Despite being in power at the state and Centre (as part of the Congress-led UPA), the DMK has said that it will urge the Union Government to prevent efforts by Kerala Government to construct an unnecessary new dam. This is an attempt to cheat the people,”said she in a statement after the assembly.