The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : We have every right to agitate on people's issues: Karunanidhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 09, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

We have every right to agitate on people's issues: Karunanidhi

By Our Special Correspondent

The DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, at an Iftar party in Chennai on Monday. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI, NOV. 8. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president, M. Karunanidhi, today justified his party's agitation against the increase in the price of petroleum products' effected by the Union Government.

"The party has every right to agitate on issues concerning people which it has been doing since its formation," he said at an `Iftar' party organised by the Tamil Maanila National League here.

Aware of implications

Reacting to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's criticism of the DMK's agitation on November 10, Mr. Karunanidhi said his party, aware of the implication of the hike,urged the Centre to allot more subsidy and rollback the prices.

Not only the DMK, even its allies, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the left parties, opposed the hike and announced agitation programmes.

Even in the past when the DMK was part of the National Democratic Alliance Government, it organised agitations against the Centre, including a stir against the Prevention of Terrorism Act and another for making Tamil as a classical language. For the DMK, people's welfare was more important than power.

Support to Muslims

Assuring Muslims of his party's continued support, Mr. Karunanidhi said his party always stood behind the community even during the days when there was no alliance between the DMK and the Muslim League. Referring to the demand by speakers for separate reservation for Muslims, Mr. Karunanidhi said the party had included it in its manifesto during the last Lok Sabha election and because of its effort, the Centre constituted a high-power committee to study the issue.

The organisers presented a garland made of silver coins to Mr. Karunanidhi to mark the 25th year of his participation in "Iftar" parties.

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