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Status report on MoU sought

PUDUCHERRY: In a rare development, MLAs belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) joined hands with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member A. Anbalagan in seeking a status report on the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Reliance Industries to lay a gas pipeline in Yanam region.

Raising the issue during the zero hour, Mr.Anbalagan said that since last year, he had been repeatedly raising queries when the MoU was signed, what were the benefits of the project for the Union Territory and whether the agreement was cancelled or still in vogue. However the government had been evading reply, he said. When these details were sought from the Department of Industrial Development through the Right to Information Act, it had been stated by the authority concerned that the Lieutenant Governor had ordered that the MoU would not be acted upon.

Intervening, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said the AIADMK member could raise the issue when he spoke on the demands. The Minister would certainly answer the queries during the current session of the Assembly, he added.

The DMK members were on their feet, supporting the AIADMK member’s plea.

They also urged the government not to postpone its reply on the issue.

Leader of the Opposition A.M.H. Nazeem (DMK) said the Minister could make a statement under Rule 110 of the Assembly Rules on the issue without any discussion. Raising another issue, Mr.Anbalagan said the administration which had acted swiftly and initiated action against the activists of the Communist Party of India for staging a protest at the Civil Supplies Office, had failed to bring to book some activists of a government employees’ union who had hurled abuses at a woman officer in the Education Department.

Mr. Nazeem said the police had not taken action against the persons even after three days of the incident.

Mr.Rangasamy said action would be taken if the affected officer lodged a complaint with the police.

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