The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Karunanidhi has "betrayed" ryots, says Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 11, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi has "betrayed" ryots, says Jayalalithaa

Special Correspondent

Criticises Cabinet decision scrapping Farmers Security Programme

GREETING THE LEADER: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa arriving at the party office in Chennai on Monday. — Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa on Monday criticised Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for the Cabinet decision scrapping the Farmers Security Programme launched by the AIADMK regime.

In reply to a query, she told reporters at the AIADMK head office here that Mr. Karunanidhi had committed an "unpardonable betrayal" of farmers and agricultural labourers. The programme would have provided a comprehensive security cover to1.99 crore landless agricultural workers and small and marginal farmers. "Such a scheme is not in force in any other State in the country."

The Cabinet last week decided to annul identity cards issued under the programme and the 2001 farm workers social security and welfare scheme, instituted by the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime.

Survey slammed

In a statement, Ms. Jayalalithaa questioned the constitution of a panel for conducting a new survey before issuing fresh cards. She pointed out that the AIADMK regime implemented the programme after a survey. "... What is the need for a new survey? Can anyone deny that the strength of landless farmers and small farmers is 1.99 crore, regardless of any number of new surveys that may be undertaken?"

Cable TV Bill

On the Government move to withdraw the Cable TV Bill, Ms. Jayalalithaa said this had confirmed that for Mr. Karunanidhi, "his family interests are important, not the interests of people."

The Bill, mooted by the AIADMK regime, had provisions to enable Chennai residents to view TV channels of their choice. "It is only in Chennai that the Conditional Access System is in force ...

CAS is the arrangement for bringing cable TV operations under the control of one family. We had brought in the Bill to defeat this."

Confirming that Governor Surjit Singh Barnala had returned the Bill in April, she described him as a "puppet" of Mr. Karunanidhi.

On the demand for resignation of Union Minister for Health Anbumani Ramadoss, in the light of the Delhi High Court staying the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences governing body's recommendation to terminate the services of director P. Venugopal, she said: "It is in the interest of the country that he be removed. But, it is not known whether the Prime Minister has the authority to remove him."

She also took a dig at Union Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran and said he acted as a Minister of the State Government.

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