Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Dismissal demand justified: Ramadoss

By Our Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM Nov. 13. A demand is being made for dismissing the AIADMK Government, said S. Ramadoss, founder-leader, Pattali Makkal Katchi.

Addressing a press conference at his Thailapuram farmhouse near here today, he said the Assembly incident on November 7 fully justified such a demand.

In 1987, the Centre dismissed the Tamil Nadu Government for "denying democratic rights to Opposition MLAs. During the recent Assembly session, not only Opposition MLAs got a raw deal, the freedom of the press was also subjected to a frontal attack.

The assault on the press even prompted the Pakistan External Affairs Minister to say "the situation in his country was better than in India". When the Government was toppled in 1977, the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, cited curtailment of press freedom as a reason for the dismissal.

Dr. Ramadoss said Opposition MLAs and MPs from Tamil Nadu recently presented a report on the Assembly incident and its aftermath to the Prime Minister.

The country was eager to know the nature of the report the Governor was expected to submit to the Centre.

Constitution would not militate against the people's mandate, he said if it was so, why retain the clause at all. If all Opposition leaders were put behind bars and all newspapers closed down, could this provision sustain itself, he asked.

The PMK leader termed a government proposal to employ educated youth in IMFL shops as "honey-laced poison." This would be the sure way of turning them into addicts. If prospective recruits could mobilise Rs. 10,000 (as deposit in the case of SSCL candidates) and Rs. 50,000 (for graduates), they could approach banks for starting self-help ventures.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• 'Attitudinal change needed to improve e-governance index'
• Ilamvazhuthi freed on bail
• TN bags 7 awards in e-governance
• Neither carrot nor stick works with Vellaiyammal
• Jayalalithaa seeks UNDP aid for welfare schemes
• Azhagiri again seeks easing of bail condition
• Dismissal demand justified: Ramadoss

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu