The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Members trade charges over relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 04, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Members trade charges over relief

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 3. The treasury benches and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members in the Assembly today traded charges against each other that they were politicising tsunami relief.

While the DMK argued that relief should be given to every affected person, irrespective of political affiliations, the ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said the administration was providing succour to all those hit by the tsunami.

Joining in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address to the Assembly, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, said it was actually the DMK which "introduced" politics into tsunami relief. When every section appreciated the efforts of the State Government, the Union Ministers belonging to the DMK, Dayanidhi Maran and A. Raja, had found fault with the State Government for, what they called, "tardy relief operations."

The former Minister and DMK leader, Arcot N. Veerasamy, said his party chief, M. Karunanidhi, was of the view from the beginning that there should be no politicisation of relief operations. While deputing him (Mr. Veerasamy) and his colleague, M.K. Stalin, for the all-party meeting convened by the Chief Minister last month, Mr. Karunanidhi asked them to ascertain from Ms. Jayalalithaa the actual requirements of the Government. Also, the DMK president, through the Union Minister, T. R. Baalu, made all efforts for getting more assistance sanctioned for the State.

Ms. Jayalalithaa wondered how Mr. Maran and Mr. Raja could level complaints against the State Government and if they had acted without the approval of their party chief, what action was taken against them.

Mr. Veerasamy said what the two Ministers had said referred to complaints received by them during their visit to the affected areas.

The DMK deputy floor leader, Durai Murgan, said Mr Karunanidhi, as a reflection of his "good intention," had given Rs. 21 lakhs to the State Government. The SUN television channel's offer of making its contribution to the Chief Minister's tsunami relief fund was not appreciated.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said if the representatives of the channel really wanted to hand over the money to the State Government, there were several ways of doing it.

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