New Delhi (PTI) Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday said the decision to put the Hogenakkal project on hold is absolutely that of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

“…an impression is created that Congress President Sonia Gandhi personally talked to M Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, to keep the Hogenakkal project on hold,” he said in a statement here, backtracking on his statement in Bangalore on the subject.

Moily, AICC Media Department Chairman, had on Tuesday said that Congress President Sonia Gandhi spoke to Karunanidhi and requested him to defer the project.

“It is clarified that the Congress President is interested in an amicable settlement of the dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and she is very much concerned about the environment of peace and cordiality between the people of bot the states to prevail,” Moily said.

“The gesture on the part of Karunanidhi is very much appreciated by the people of Karnataka,” he added.

DMK’s opponent AIADMK has charged Karunanidhi with putting the Hogenakkal Water Project on hold expecting a cabinet berth for his daughter MP Kanimozhi.