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Quota for Muslims: DMK for Constitutional amendment

Special Correspondent

Demand will be reiterated in the election manifesto: Karunanidhi "The EC should take impartial action against those responsible for the stuffing of electoral rolls, irrespective of whether they belong to the ruling party or the Opposition"

TIRUCHI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will press for a Constitutional amendment to provide for reservation to Muslims, party president Karunanidhi has said.

"We have already written to the Centre. The demand will be reiterated in the party's election manifesto and we will strive to implement the same. The party's Union Ministers and Members of Parliament will also impress upon the Centre," Mr. Karunanidhi told reporters here on Tuesday.

The party will also seek an enquiry by the Centre into its recent allegations of irregularities in the disbursement of tsunami relief in Tamil Nadu.

Commenting on the emerging situation in Sri Lanka, especially in wake of the arrival of refugees, Mr. Karunanidhi said though the DMK backed the Centre's foreign policy, it had drawn attention to the sufferings of the Sri Lankan Tamils. "The interests of Eelam Tamils are dear to our heart and their plight is a matter of concern."

On the seat-sharing formula in the Democratic Progressive Alliance, Mr. Karunanidhi pointed out that the AIADMK (as the leader of the alliance) had contested 140 seats in the 2001 elections. The DMK was willing to sacrifice a few seats and efforts would be made to accommodate the alliance partners. Asked whether there was scope for parties such as the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) and the Forward Bloc to join the DPA, Mr. Karunanidhi said though he would wish that were the case, but there was not enough space. The DMK would not object if the Pattali Makkal Katchi gave a few seats from its share to the DPI.

Denying that the continuation of the MDMK had caused any consternation in the DMK, he indicated that Vaiko was likely to meet him on his return to Chennai.

Mr. Karunanidhi regretted that the issue of "stuffing" of electoral rolls had become a sort of game (sadu kudu) between the Opposition parties and the Election Commission. While the Commission continued to maintain that action was being taken against those responsible for the earlier "stuffing" of 13 lakh bogus voters, it had now gone on record stating that about 19 lakh applications had been received afresh for inclusion in the voters list. The EC should take impartial action against those responsible for the stuffing, irrespective of whether they belonged to the ruling party or the Opposition. Mr. Karunanidhi did not foresee possibility for emergence of a Third front at the Centre in the near future. The Left parties' stand on certain policy issues would only strengthen the Centre rather than weaken it, he added.

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