The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Entry of my son at appropriate time: Ramadoss

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 12, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Entry of my son at appropriate time: Ramadoss

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, APRIL 10. The Pattali Makkal Katchi founder, S.Ramadoss, has said the party would decide on the entry of his son, R.Anbumani, into electoral politics at "an appropriate time."

"The partymen have been telling him and me about this (his son's entry into politics). He has to take a decision. If he is interested, the party's general council and executive will decide on what responsibility to give him," he told The Hindu at his Thailapuram residence.

"This might be interpreted as dynastic politics. But it should be remembered we had four MPs in 1998 and five, including two Ministers, in 1999. Now we have 20 MLAs. Could not my son have been given a seat anytime?"

On the PMK's earlier demand to bifurcate the State, he said that the idea was put forth in the interest of ensuring equitable development of all regions. "But there was considerable opposition to this. Hence we have given it up. It is not an electoral issue."

On the AIADMK Government's performance, Dr. Ramadoss said in the past three years, there had been no progress on the socio-economic front. Successive droughts hit agriculture operations. Apart from farmers, landless labourers were facing hard times. Also, not a single appointment was made in the government sector. Government departments were dismissing noon-meal workers, organisers of cooperatives and health workers. "About one lakh workers and their families are on the streets." In Tamil Nadu, 52 lakh youths, including 18 lakhs women, registered in employment exchanges. The Government had no workable scheme to reduce poverty. At the national level, the percentage of people below poverty line was 32. In Tamil Nadu, 35 per cent of the population was below poverty line. A responsive Government should have spelt out a programme to bring down this percentage, Dr. Ramadoss said.

In the agricultural sector, the Government said that it would implement the suggestions of M.S.Swaminathan, agricultural scientist. Was at least one of the 15 points suggested by him implemented, he asked.

On the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa describing the PMK as a "tree felling party" and "casteist", he said one should not lose sight of history. As many as 21 PMK supporters were killed in police firing on a single day, when M.G.Ramachandran was Chief Minister, who was in the U.S. for treatment, when the party was fighting for reservations. The PMK men reacted by felling trees. But why was a Chief Minister, who claimed that she was keen on protecting the environment, felling thousands of trees in the name of laying pipes for the "futile" Veeraman scheme and in places where she addressed meetings in the name of "security."

On personal attacks against him, he said his party wrote to the Election Commission. "We have also taken the issue to the people." He accused Ms.Jayalalithaa of being anti-Vanniar, exemplified in her act of merging Ariyalur with Perambalur, he said.

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