The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Parties welcome Government move

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 29, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Parties welcome Government move

Special Correspondent

Not to de-reserve four village panchayats

CHENNAI: Political parties have welcomed the government decision not to de-reserve the four village panchayats where elections have not been held or elected presidents have been forced to step down.

D.Sudarsanam and D.Yasodha (both Congress); T.Arumugham (PMK); C.Govindasamy (CPI-M); V.Sivapuniyam (CPI) and P.Selvam (DPI) commended the decision. (The Cabinet on Saturday decided not to de-reserve the panchayats — Papapatti, Keeripatti, Nattarmangalam and Kottakachiyendhal — for the local body polls.)

Mr.Sudarsanam said this was not a concession to the oppressed classes; the government was upholding the Constitutional right of people. Mr.Selvam described Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi as a "living Periyar" and said his party had made the demand not to de-reserve the panchayats. Speaker R.Avudaiappan said the Chief Minister stood for upholding social justice and thanked him on behalf of the House.

While MDMK members did not speak, deputy leader of the Opposition O.Paneerselvam alleged that between 1996 and 2001, the DMK government did not take any steps to hold the elections. Only after the AIADMK came to power were nominations filed in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The elected persons resigned immediately after the elections. He and the then Adi Dravida Welfare Minister Karuppasamy were sent to talk to the people. Mr.Paneerselvam said during the talks, the villagers agreed to elect a dalit. But again, after the elections, the elected members resigned.

Responding, Mr.Karunanidhi said all parties together should ensure that the elections took place because this was a social problem that affected all. He desired that elections take place in the villages. An all-party felicitation function should be arranged in Chennai for the panchayat presidents.

Solatium

Responding to a request from T.Velmurugan (PMK) that the next of kin of five persons who died after lightning struck them be provided relief, Mr.Karunanidhi said that the government would consider the issue. The question was not if relief should be provided, but how much, he said. Mr.Velmurugan also wanted installation of lightning conductors, as done in advanced nations, to prevent such deaths.

During zero hour, V.Jayaraman (AIADMK) wanted to know if the government would provide relief for 25 agricultural labourers injured in an accident near Pollachi on August 16. Two of the injured had died. Mr.Karunanidhi said the information could have been conveyed to him through a telegram. He would have taken action earlier. If the incident was true, then relief would be provided.

Heritage structures

Speaking on the debate for demands for grants of Tourism and Information departments, Bader Sayeed (AIADMK) wanted the government to form a committee to identify places of exemplary architectural and heritage value. These could be developed as tourist and pilgrimage spots.

She wanted the Nagoor dargah and the Velankanni Church to be converted to heritage sites and maintained properly. Ms.Sayeed wanted the government to allow prayers at the Vellore mosque and also wanted it to speed up work on the Wakf Board building.

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