Tamil Nadu - Dindigul   

DMK betrayed powerloom weavers: Jayalalithaa

By Our Staff Reporter

DINDIGUL, APRIL 16 . The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, held the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, and his previous regime responsible for the pathetic condition of powerloom weavers in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing a gathering at a public meeting held at the private school ground near Karur by-pass on the outskirts of Dindigul on Friday, she, reacting to assurances made by him at Erode and Tiruchengode public meetings to weavers on the Central Value Added Tax, asked how Mr Karunanidhi could make such an appeal to people. When the Centre slapped 10 per cent CENVAT for fabrics made in powerlooms, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Pattali Makkal Katchi were in the Central Government. Ministers of these parties had expressed their approval for introduction of the tax. And now, the same parties, after parting ways with the BJP, were criticising the CENVAT.

``These Ministers had enjoyed power for the past five years without worrying about farmers and supported the bill", Ms. Jayalalithaa said, terming Mr. Karunanidhi's promise to the weavers

deceitful opportunism.

Though the AIAMDK did not take part in the Centre, the party took pains to solve the problems of weavers and wrote to the Union Finance Minister, insisting on abolition of the CENVAT, she said. The party asked the Government to, at least, give an exemption to weaving units manufacturing fabric worth up to Rs.1 crore.

Responding to the request, the Centre announced an exemption to powerloom units manufacturing fabrics valuing up to Rs.35 lakhs, the Chief Minister said.

Blaming Mr. Karunanidhi for the pathetic condition of Cauvery delta farmers, she said he had betrayed the people in Cauvery delta.

Ms. Jayalalithaa criticised the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi and asked the audience whether the people wanted the son of the soil to rule the nation or a foreigner.

Earlier, she campaigned for the Palani constituency candidate, K. Kishore Kumar, at Iyyalur and Vadamadurai in the district.

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