The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Revert to paper ballot: Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Revert to paper ballot: Jayalalithaa

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 22. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today wanted to revert to the paper ballot for elections to prevent large-scale rigging of electronic voting machines.

"Some machines were shown to me...No matter which symbol you press, the vote will be registered for the rising sun symbol," she told mediapersons here. "In order to eliminate the possibility of rigging we have to go back to the paper ballot," she said.

Asked if the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government planned to go for early elections, she said that this was "just a rumour. Why should I want to go for early elections?"

Answering a question, she said the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president, M.Karunanidhi did not have the right to speak about the duration of the Assembly session as he did not attend the House. When pointed out that other members too raised the issue, she said the budget was presented to the Assembly in February. Because of unavoidable circumstances — the Lok Sabha elections — the budget session was adjourned. Five months after the budget was presented it came up for discussions. In the interim, the Government made many changes and announced new schemes. "In these extraordinary circumstances, we consider that a long, exhaustive debate is not needed. In a few months from now a new budget will be presented."

Kumbakonam tragedy

On investigations into the Kumbakonam tragedy, she said the Government took "stringent action against 17 persons so far."

A Commission of Inquiry was set up. Some teachers were interrogated.

"We should now leave it to the Commission." When a parallel between the tragedy in a marriage hall at Srirangam and the one at Kumbakonam was drawn, Ms.Jayalalithaa said marriage halls were governed by a different set of rules. The two could not be compared.

Stamp paper scam

On the stamp paper scam, she said her Government did not seek to "shield anyone." There was, however, "a move to cover up" cases by officials. There were 19 cases in the State — two with CB CID and 17 with Commercial Taxes. She transferred them to the CBI.

On the Registration department proposal to use low-value stamp papers, she said this was being considered. "We already had a discussion on the subject. The proposal is under circulation."

Asked if the State Government proposed to introduce reservations for Muslims, she said this was "simply not possible... They already enjoy a number of privileges under the Constitution, which the majority does not enjoy." Muslims were not the only minority; there were Christians, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists. Also, the number of Muslims and Christians in the State was nearly equal. If Muslims were given reservation, the others would ask for the same, she said.

The storage in Mettur reservoir was not enough for water release, she said in response to a question.

On the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, announcing relief for the affected at Kumbakonam on behalf of the Union Government, Ms.Jayalalithaa said it was "totally wrong" and amounted to "devaluing the office of the Prime Minister." "What Mrs. Gandhi has done is wrong by any standards... Only the Prime Minister has the power and the authority to announce...In the history of independent India, this is totally unprecedented. This has set a wrong precedent."

She was not aware of the Samajwadi Party MP, Jayaprada, making an announcement of relief on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh Government. If she had done so, it was wrong, she said.

On the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, writing to Chief Ministers advising them against frequent reshuffle of officers, she said the Prime Minister was "entitled to offer advice to the Chief Ministers. There is nothing wrong with that...We need not feel that it is only targeted at Opposition- ruled States."

`Disgraceful situation'

On the Union Minister, Shibu Soren, going "underground" following the issue of an arrest warrant, she said that this was the "most disgraceful situation...It is a national shame." The AIADMK supported the National Democratic Alliance campaign against tainted Ministers.

She described the lifting of the ban on People's War as "a very, very dangerous move... I am simply unable to believe that a responsible Government can take the maintenance of law and order so lightly." She said that many industrialists from Andhra Pradesh expressed their "grave misgivings" to her. "They said that they are going to pull out of Andhra... All those who can afford to do so are migrating to Tamil Nadu."

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