CHENNAI: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Tuesday made it clear that if returned to power, its government would not implement the Value added Tax (VAT) until the Centre brought forward the necessary amendments.

The AIADMK manifesto for the Assembly elections released by party general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa here, urged the Centre to bring a suitable legislative amendment acceptable to traders and producers so as to remove all problems faced by them on account of VAT.

The party also assured that a new `samadhan' scheme acceptable to all would be introduced in order to collect tax arrears.

Centre flayed

The manifesto charged the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre with resorting to "misuse of power, corruption and anti-people policies." It flayed the Centre for permitting foreign direct investment in retail trade.

Faulting the Centre's decision to reduce the interest rate for Employees Provident Fund from 9.5 per cent to 8.5 per cent, the party said it would continue to seek restoration of the original rate of interest. It would oppose the Centre's decision to privatise the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, the manifesto said.

Dubbing Congress president Sonia Gandhi an "extra Constitutional power centre," the AIADMK demanded a probe against her in the wake of the Volcker Committee findings. It also called for constitution of an enquiry commission to investigate the "Rs.700 crore submarine scam."

Project slammed

The manifesto accused the Central Ministers from Tamil Nadu of indulging in "anti-Tamil Nadu activities." The Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project was "hastily" implemented "without regard for the danger to the livelihood of thousands of fishermen and with scant regard for the environmental impact on the marine ecology of the region."

In order to prevent continuing violence against fishermen from Tamil Nadu in the Palk Strait in and around Kachatheevu, the Centre would be urged to get the island on "lease in perpetuity" so that traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen and their privileges in the area were protected.

The manifesto dealt with the inter-State water disputes such as Cauvery and Mullaperiyar dam issues. The manifesto pointed out the salient features of the draft scheme put forth by the State to the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. The Government would continue to take constructive legal measures in this regard.

Scheme promised

Highlighting various achievements of the AIADMK Government, the manifesto promised a `fishermen protection scheme.' It urged the Centre to restore the subsidised rice scheme for the benefit of 50,730 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in the State.

Reiterating that the AIADMK would continue to oppose any move by the Centre to increase the price of rice and the reduce the quantity supplied through in the public distribution system, the manifesto said the State Government would continue to supply rice at the "present lowest rate." The manifesto promised that in the course of the next five years, efforts would be made to provide employment in the Information Technology sector to five lakh youths.

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