- PHOTO: V. GANESAN

Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday said that her party, if elected to power in the May 8 Assembly election, would distribute computers free to each and every successful candidate of the Standard XII examination.

Continuing her election campaign in Chennai city and adjacent areas in Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, she said though computers could be used for communication just as telephone, the poor and the downtrodden were not in a position to avail themselves of the facility. Distribution of free computers would enable students to use them for knowledge-oriented purposes, besides securing better jobs, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

She accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of giving a "false promise" to the electorate that if elected to power it would provide free colour television sets, each costing Rs.2000. A Government should strive hard to fulfil the basic livelihood needs instead of reeling out "fake announcements," she said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa also promised to end the "monopoly" of a private company in the cable television sector. Steps would be taken to do away with the set-top box system, presently in vogue in Chennai so that the exploitation of the public was stopped.

She said that the law introduced by her Government in 2002 to ban forced conversions was not in vogue, as it had been repealed through an Ordinance in 2004. A five-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court confirmed in 1985 that a law repealed by an Ordinance could not be revived even if it was not placed in the Assembly for approval, she said.

The Backward Classes Welfare Commission had been reorganised, she said, adding that necessary orders would be issued by the new Government on providing reservation to the minorities on the basis of its recommendations.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail