The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Centre can do more for Tamil Nadu, says DMK

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Centre can do more for Tamil Nadu, says DMK

K.V. Prasad

"The UPA's one-year rule was beneficial to Tamil Nadu"

COIMBATORE: : The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Sunday said the Centre could do more for accelerating development in Tamil Nadu even while acknowledging whatever the State had got in the last one year of the United Progressive Alliance rule.

At the concluding session of the party's two-day zonal conference at Nilambur here, president M. Karunanidhi said: "We cannot say we are fully satisfied, but we are satisfied with what the State has got so far. But more can be done."

The clearance of the Sethusamudram project and local calls throughout the State were among the benefits the State got. These should give a fitting reply to those who alleged that the Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu did nothing for the State.

Mr. Karunanidhi assured the people that his party would play a constructive role at the Centre, "opposing what should be opposed and supporting what should be supported".

He asked how the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government could question the performance of the Centre when it did not have any achievement at all.

Wondering why the flyover scam case was revived after four years, he asked "What for is this case? Have we accumulated ill-gotten wealth? We are ready to face these cases legally."

Protest from June 15

He said the Democratic Progressive Alliance would stage demonstration in front of the Collectorates on June 15 to demand that road workers be reinstated. If the Government did not relent, it would observe a fast.

Earlier, leaders of the DPA allies said the DMK's defeat in the Gummudipoondi and Kancheepuram byelections should be put behind, as the two seats did not matter.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president G. K. Vasan said only a change in the regime would help to meet the aspirations of the people.

Pattali Makkal Katchi founder-leader S. Ramadoss said some sections hoped for a split in the DPA after the bypoll results. "They are not aware that ours is a winning front".

Dr. Ramadoss stressed absolute camaraderie between small and big parties. "I am saying this because this (issues over stature or size) had caused heartburn during elections."

Communist Party of India State secretary T. Pandian said the two seats would not bring about a sea change in the situation.

"All the seats will come to us in 2006. This front will last in New Delhi and Tamil Nadu."

"The CPI stands by you in the fight to bring about a change in the State," he assured Mr. Karunanidhi.

Alleging attempts by the AIADMK to win voters through "deception", Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary N. Varadarajan urged the people to remember how they were ill-treated during the past four years.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer M. Kannappan said the DPA would not be cowed down by "foisting" cases on its leaders. The AIADMK, he said, was not trustworthy as concessions to various sections were announced only after the resounding defeat in the Lok Sabha elections.

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