The Hindu : Front Page : Third front definitely possible: Jayalalithaa

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Friday, Jun 23, 2006

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Third front definitely possible: Jayalalithaa

Special Correspondent

Says it is essential "for future good and welfare of the nation"

AT THE PARTY OFFICE: AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa addressing mediapersons in Chennai on Thursday. — Photo: M. Vedhan

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CHENNAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General secretary Jayalalithaa on Thursday insisted that a third political alternative was "definitely possible."

Replying to queries on efforts being made by some leaders to form a third front at the national level, she told reporters at the AIADMK headquarters here that for the "future good and welfare of the nation, it should be made possible." Some top leaders involved in the task had spoken to her on forming the front. They would contact her as and when necessary.

On India's response to the Sri Lankan developments, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the AIADMK had urged the Centre to take necessary steps, as the Government had not yet taken any measures.

"The alliance forged for the Assembly elections will continue [for the local body elections]," she said. If more parties wanted to join it, their request would be considered.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said she would attend the budget session of the Assembly.

Government slammed

She said law and order had deteriorated and illicit brew was flowing like a river in the State. The police were not registering complaints from the affected public. In some instances, cases had been foisted on innocent people "to protect the ruling party activists."

The Government's Rs. 2 a kg rice scheme was aimed at "hoodwinking" people. There were complaints about the quality of rice and its diversion from the public distribution system.

Flaying the Government for scaling down the security provided to her, Ms. Jayalalithaa said visitors to her house were remarking that security was "non-existent."

She faced real threat from extremist and separatist forces, as she had curbed their activities "with an iron hand," in the interest of the people and the country's security. Her security requirements could not be compared with those of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi while he was in the Opposition.

She said the delta farmers, who had begun transplantation work for the kuruvai crop in the wake of the Government's announcement that cooperative loans to the tune of Rs. 1,000 crore would be disbursed, were in a quandary. In the absence of clear instructions from the Government, cooperative banks were not disbursing farm loan. The Government had released only Rs.106 crore to the banks.

Asked about the alleged attempt on the life of Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin in Madurai, she said, if the Government wanted to give `Z' category security to him, it could have straightaway done so, instead of "enacting a drama."

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