Tamil Nadu   

Own blame for misdeeds and quit, Congress tells Jayalalithaa

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE. 5. The Congress Legislature Party leader, S.R. Balasubramaniam, yesterday said the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, should "own responsibility for all misdeeds" and submit her resignation. The people awarded her "punishment" in the recent Lok Sabha elections (in which the Democratic Progressive Alliance bagged all 39 seats in the State), he told newsmen here.

Asked whether he suggested that some other person head the ministry or that the State go to the polls, Mr. Balasubramaniam said, "If they go to the people, well and good. Let her resign first", he said. "She has already been punished. She must take the punishment". The Chief Minister was now making announcements daily, he said and wondered why she was doing so. She said all the decisions had been taken in the interests of the people. The announcements were "confession statements," Mr. Balasubramaniam said. Asked whether he thought that they were being made keeping an eye on the Assembly elections in 2006, he said he did not know.

Letter to CM

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. Balasubramaniam said he welcomed the decisions announced by the government prior to and after the general elections. He believed that the measures had been taken "bowing to the people's verdict in the elections". The fruits of democracy could be achieved only when the ruling and Opposition parties worked jointly. The people and those with differing views should be respected for the healthy functioning of democracy.

Mr. Balasubramaniam said there were no announcements on labour welfare. Several industrial units remained closed and the workforce was thrown out of employment. To mitigate the sufferings of such workers, the government earlier paid them Rs. 250 a month. But the relief was not being given now. He said the payment should be hiked to Rs.1,000. Also, road workers and those working in cooperative societies, who were removed from service, should be taken back.

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