The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Government targeting Jaya TV shareholder: AIADMK

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Friday, Apr 20, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Government targeting Jaya TV shareholder: AIADMK

Special Correspondent

Veerasamy denies that the Government is intimidating S. Vaikundarajan MLAs stage walkout over "action contemplated" by Government

CHENNAI: Even as the State Government made it clear that it was prepared to order a probe into illegal mining of mineral sand, members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Thursday staged a walkout in the Assembly, criticising "action contemplated" against an industrialist who was also a shareholder in Jaya TV.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, AIADMK Whip K.A. Sengottaiyan said though three other industrialists were also engaged in the same trade, the Government was trying to initiate action against S. Vaikundarajan of V.V.Minerals [in Tirunelveli district]. Attempts were on to detain him under the Goondas Act, as he was an important shareholder in Jaya TV.

He sought to know if the Government would order a judicial probe.

The AIADMK would not mind any action against Mr. Vaikundarajan on the basis of the outcome of the inquiry.

"No intimidation"

Intervening, Minister for Electricity Arcot N. Veerasamy denied that the Government was intimidating Mr. Vaikundarajan. It had no intention to cripple Jaya TV. There was no need for the Government to harass the industrialist, who had shares worth a few lakh rupees through a holding company in the public limited company that ran Jaya TV with an authorised share capital of Rs.20.25 crore and paid up share capital of Rs.19.82 crore.

Mr. Vaikundarajan acquired licence for export of mineral sands available in coastal areas during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime. Though he worked for the AIADMK in the last Assembly elections, the Government had not harassed him or his family members, Mr. Veerasamy said. The Government was prepared to act against whoever was involved in activities such as illegal mining of mineral sand.

Mr. Sengottaiyan alleged that though Mr. Veerasamy claimed that the Government was not vindictive, Mr. Vaikundarajan's company had been sealed and action contemplated against him after tearing off the permits obtained by the company to transport mineral ore in six lorries. Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudy said the Government could act against those smuggling mineral sand. There was nothing wrong in punishing the guilty. File notings revealed that the industrialist had tried to scuttle a major project by Tatas in the State.

Jayalalithaa's allegation

At a press conference, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa alleged that Mr. Vaikundarajan was being pressured by the Government to sell his shares.

Cases were being foisted against him and V.V. Minerals was forced to close down by the State Pollution Control Board and the Department of Mining and Geology.

Ms. Jayalalithaa also charged that the DMK was attempting to prevent the print and visual media from carrying the views of AIADMK and other opposition parties in the State.

She alleged that advertisers were being warned against patronising Jaya TV.

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