The Hindu : Front Page : DMK, allies to observe bandh in Puducherry too

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Sunday, Sep 30, 2007
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DMK, allies to observe bandh in Puducherry too

Staff Reporter

Congress stays away from meeting convened to discuss it

— Photo:T. Singaravelou

VITAL DECISION: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam convener R.V. Janakiraman chairing the meeting of the party’s alliance partners in Puducherry on Saturday.

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry unit of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and some of its alliance partners on Saturday decided to observe a dawn-to-dusk bandh on October 1 in the Union Territory, demanding, among other things, speedy implementation of the Sethusamudram project.

The ruling Congress party stayed away from the meeting called by the DMK to discuss issues related to the bandh.

Convener of the Puducherry DMK unit R.V. Janakiraman said the Congress representative did not attend the meeting though the party had promised to participate. “It is for the Congress leadership to explain their stand on the bandh and the reason for staying away from the meeting,” he said in response to a question.

When contacted,Puducherry Congress Committee president P. Shanmugham said the party would act as per the advice of the high command. It had not received any directive from the All India Congress Committee on the bandh.

Earlier, the meeting condemned the remarks made by former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. It urged the Centre to register a criminal case against Mr. Vedanti. The DMK and its alliance partners appealed to other political parties, trade unions, bus owners and traders to extend support to the bandh. They decided to organise awareness programmes, including street corner meetings, on Sunday to explain the reason for observing the bandh.

Those who attended the meeting included local PMK MP M. Ramadass, former DMK MP C.P. Thirunavakaras, Communist Party of India national council member R. Viswanathan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) local unit secretary V. Perumal and his party colleague T. Murugan, legislators belonging to DMK and representatives of the Dravida Kazhagam and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

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