The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Idea of joint patrolling is dangerous, says Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 23, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Idea of joint patrolling is dangerous, says Jayalalithaa

Special Correspondent

"Navy should step up patrolling in India's territorial waters" "India should not get involved in Sri Lanka's internal affairs"

Jayalalithaa — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa on Thursday cautioned the Centre against agreeing to joint patrolling by the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies in the wake of frequent attacks on fishermen belonging to Tamil Nadu. Speaking to newsmen after a meeting of the AIADMK legislature party here, she dubbed the proposal for joint patrolling "dangerous." "India should not get involved in Sri Lanka's internal affairs," she said.

To a question, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the solution to the problems facing the Tamil Nadu fishermen did not lie in joint patrolling. On the other hand, the Indian Navy should step up patrolling in India's territorial waters, she said.

Budget session

On the AIADMK's strategy for the budget Session of the Assembly, she said, "The session had already started in right earnest. The budget is going to be presented on Friday. You will see our strategy as the session unfolds."

Asked if she would take part in the Assembly proceedings, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that too would be made known as and when things moved. To another query, she said she would not boycott the Assembly. "I do not have any intention to boycott [the proceedings]"

Ms. Jayalalithaa said the Opposition had not been given a fair opportunity to put forth its views in the House. "Basic courtesies, norms and conventions are not observed and no respect is shown even to ladies."

If anybody expressed a view, even in a dignified manner, it would be expunged if it was not to the liking of the Treasury Benches, more particularly the Chief Minister, she said.

The Opposition's role was not to present views to please the ruling party. As Opposition Leader , whenever she tried to pinpoint the commissions and omissions of the Government, the Ministers through interventions prevented her from doing so, she said. "We will point out the mistakes of the Government and the shortcomings in the administration."

Asked if there would be any floor coordination between the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the AIADMK, Ms. Jayalalithaa said, "I cannot say anything about that now."

Answering a question on identical views expressed by the PMK and the AIADMK on multi-national corporations and big business entering the retail trade, she said, "We have not expressed any opinion to agree with any political party." The AIADMK had been putting forth its views to reflect its stand on certain issues of public importance. "I will not advice you to read deep into this and imagine things," she said.

Cauvery issue

On the memorandum submitted by Tamil Nadu MPs to the Prime Minister seeking legal steps to implement the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, she said the plea only vindicated the AIADMK's stand on the issue.

To another query, she said only the State Government could move the tribunal or the Supreme Court on such issues under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956.

She charged Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with "misleading" the people every day with one statement or another.

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