The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Karunanidhi denies Vaiko's charge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 07, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Karunanidhi denies Vaiko's charge

Special Correspondent

DMK meeting shows green light to MDMK activists for joining party-led alliance

CHENNAI: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Saturday denied Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko's charge that the ruling party had conspired to destroy the MDMK.

Mr. Karunanidhi said there was no need for the DMK to hatch a conspiracy to disrupt the MDMK general council meeting, convened by Mr.Vaiko [in Chennai on January 10].

Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Karunanidhi referred to a resolution adopted by the meeting of executive committee, administrative committee and district secretaries of the DMK on the recent developments in the MDMK.

The meeting gave permission for hundreds of activists, who along with functionaries L. Ganesan and Gingee N.Ramachandran had dissociated themselves from Mr. Vaiko, to become part of the alliance led by the DMK in case they wished to do so; or if they continued to function under the banner of the MDMK with the approval of the Election Commission; or in the event of rallying under a new banner. The meeting expressed happiness over the decision of a "large number" of MDMK activists to "liberate" themselves from Mr. Vaiko. It clarified that MDMK activists who wanted to join the DMK were welcome to do so and could contest the organisational elections to be held shortly, as per the party rules.

Permitting them to enrol themselves in the DMK and supporting them when the party's help was sought, were in tune with the policies, principles and ideals of Periyar E.V.Ramasami and C.N.Annadurai, founders of the Dravidar Kazhagam and the DMK respectively, the resolution said. The meeting appealed to the Centre to take steps for finding a solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic issue so that the welfare of the island Tamils was ensured.

Another resolution urged the Centre to take steps to nationalise the rivers and, as a first step, implement the linking of peninsular rivers to assert national integration, alleviate farmers' problems and ensure balanced growth in agricultural sector in all the regions.

Expressing gratitude to the Centre for its decision to provide 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in Central educational institutions of excellence, the meeting urged the Union Human Resource Ministry to issue orders to implement it in the current academic year itself. It also called for extension of 27 per cent reservation to the private sector.

VAT

To a query, Mr. Karunanidhi said implementation of the Value Added Tax in the State had helped to bring down prices of the essential commodities.

Asked if the Government would make wearing of helmets compulsory for two-wheeler riders, he said a decision would be taken in consultation with organisations of journalists and road-users concerned.

Mr. Karunanidhi also said Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S.Ramadoss had not opposed the State Government's freebies but he had only emphasised the need to find ways to help the people to become self-sufficient.

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