The Hindu : Front Page : Patience must not be mistaken for weakness: Karunanidhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 27, 2006
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Patience must not be mistaken for weakness: Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

"No intention to adopt a confrontationist approach towards Kerala Government"

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu's moderate and patient approach to the Mullaperiyar dam issue should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness or that justice is not on its side, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Sunday.

"There is no intention on our part to adopt a confrontationist approach towards the Kerala Government, which is disregarding the Supreme Court order that allows the water level in the dam to be raised to 142 feet. The Press has carried criticisms of the Kerala Government and observations of some Ministers. Any perusal of the happenings will reveal how Tamil Nadu is displaying patience and keenness in resolving the dispute amicably," the Chief Minister said in a statement issued here.

His Government never deviated from the policy of having cordial relations with neighbouring States. Mr. Karunanidhi said he had been highlighting the need for adopting such an approach at all-party meetings held on the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar disputes.

When the Kannada actor Raj Kumar was kidnapped by [the forest brigand] Veerappan [in 2000], he [Mr. Karunanidhi] was concerned that there should be no bitterness between the people of the two States or riots.

So, he worked in tandem with his Karnataka counterpart [S.M. Krishna].

A few days ago, when Tamil Nadu farmers and traders resorted to road blockade on the Mullaperiyar issue, he had said such an action was not acceptable and gave a call to withdraw it.

Sugarcane price

On the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa's charge with regard to the procurement price of sugarcane, he denied that the price had been reduced. He said that the harvesting season had begun only now. Steps were being taken to fix the price.

"Allegation baseless"

So, there was no basis to the allegation that sugarcane procurement price was decreased.

Mr. Karunanidhi questioned the need for the AIADMK to announce an agitation when there was no reduction of the cane price.

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