The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : We are not acting as a pressure group: Ramadoss

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Wednesday, Jul 04, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

We are not acting as a pressure group: Ramadoss

T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss, who has been criticising the State Government’s approach on several issues, on Tuesday made it clear that there is no intention on his part or on the part of his party to act as a pressure group.

“Ours is unconditional support. We will continue to extend it to the Government for five years,” he told TheHindu.

His statement assumes significance against the backdrop of the ongoing debate between the PMK and Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy on private self-financing colleges collecting “exorbitant fees” from students admitted under the Government quota.

Asked why he did not make his position known in meetings of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA), Dr. Ramadoss replied that he would do so as and when such meetings were held. “But, no meeting has been convened by the DPA. Where is the consultation? Take the case of cooperative polls. No consultation has taken place with us [as to how to face the polls].”

The PMK leader said it was public knowledge that several colleges were collecting “exorbitant fees.” “Just go to colleges located on the outskirts of Chennai and find out the situation. You will know for yourself.”

Noting that the media had highlighted the issue several times, he said there was, however, need for bringing out a more detailed account of the problem in the media. “Would it be sufficient if only one person raises voice?”

“Friendly ally”

Emphasising that the PMK was a “friendly ally” of the DMK, Dr. Ramadoss asked, “Does this mean that we should keep on praising the Government even when we find the Government’s approach wanting [on different issues]? Be it the satellite town issue or airport expansion or inter-State river disputes such as the Cauvery and Palar, we have expressed our party’s position. In all these instances, we have reflected only the concerns of the public.” Contending that the arrangement that his party struck with the DMK was limited to the Assembly elections, he said there was a need for his party to continue to support the DMK Government, which did not have a majority [on its own].

This was different from the position of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which had a majority in the previous tenure of Assembly. The PMK, came out of the AIADMK-led front in three months, he recalled.

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