Water resources minister and Kerala Congress (M) leader P.J. Joseph’s penchant for Mullaperiyar issue is well-known. However, too much of an emotional attachment, sometimes, could prove not only unhealthy but also quite dangerous.

A hapless Joseph may have learnt this lesson, albeit on a bitter note, when he visited Mankombu in Alappuzha district on Sunday evening to attend the review of meeting of the Kuttanad Package which is embroiled in controversies.

The review meeting was attended by Congress MP Kodikkunnil Suresh and executive director Kuttanad Development Committee Father Thomas Peelianikkal. Besides, there’re also dozens of Congress workers who’d come in the company of Suresh.

Joseph’s troubles started when the committee was deliberating on the issue of deepening the Alappuzha-Changanassery canal, in short, AC canal. Father Thomas, of course, was not in favour of deepening the existing canal.

Instead, he mooted the idea of constructing a parallel canal between Kidangara and Nedumudy. Joseph immediately welcomed the suggestion. However, Suresh objected to it since he may have failed to see anything pious in the priestly suggestion.

He allegedly said if the parallel canal was constructed it would become yet another Mullaperiyar issue. The minister, of course, wouldn’t have required anything more to get provoked. “What do you know about Mullaperiyar?” he thundered and bluntly asked Suresh to sit in his place.

Joseph’s ill-tempered words soon saw Congress workers jumping to their feet who surrounded the minister shouting and screaming. But for the presence of police, the verbal duel would’ve deteriorated into fisticuffs.

The police soon rescued the minister from the angry mob and drove him away from the trouble to a safer place. Suresh later clarified that it was Joseph spoke criticizing the Centre. “The trouble started there,” he said.

Now, the question is: will Joseph now take care not to get deluged by the Mullaperiyar emotions?