The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Jayalalithaa accuses DMK chief of betraying Tamils

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Friday, Jun 22, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Jayalalithaa accuses DMK chief of betraying Tamils

Special Correspondent

“It will be a matter of pride to have Mr. Kalam in office for a second term”

campaign time: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa addressing a public meeting in Madurai on Thursday. AIADMK candidate Sellur K. Raju (centre) is in the picture. —

MADURAI: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa on Thursday accused Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi of “betraying” Tamils by not backing the candidature of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in the Presidential polls.

Addressing a public meeting while campaigning for AIADMK candidate ‘Sellur’ K. Raju in the Madurai West Assembly constituency, she said that Mr. Karunanidhi had ignored the interests of a majority of people in the country, who wanted Mr. Kalam to continue. In a survey conducted by the media, at least 90 per cent of the people favoured a second term for the incumbent President.

“Mr. Karunanidhi has already promised Congress president Sonia Gandhi to back the United Progressive Alliance candidate. It is a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu to have Mr. Abdul Kalam in office for a second term,” she said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said that there was total breakdown of law and order in the State and people were living under constant fear as reports of murder, theft and robbery were rampant.

False cases were being foisted against AIADMK cadres with the help of the police. While DMK cadres were openly distributing Rs. 1,500 per family in the constituency, the law enforcing agencies were mute spectators. AIADMK cadres were being continuously attacked and prevented from doing election work, she said.

“We approached the police, court and the Election Commission seeking justice, but it was denied. So I have come to you. The voters of this constituency, who elected MGR in1980 must teach a lesson to Mr. Karunanidhi,” she said.

Charging that the welfare schemes promised by the DMK in the 2006 Assembly elections were mere “eyewash,” the AIADMK leader said that the Government had failed to get the Supreme Court order on the Periyar dam issue in favour of Tamil Nadu implemented. Stating that people with hardly any experience in public life were being given vital posts, she said that the prices of essential commodities, which were under control in the AIADMK regime, had now shot up.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko said that the decision of the United National Progressive Alliance to support Mr. Kalam for a second term was a turning point in the political history of the country.

Though the AIADMK cadres were being attacked repeatedly, the police were only booking false cases against them.

“There is a limit to tolerance. If the attacks continue, the cadres will hit back. The law provides for self-defence,” he warned.

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