The Hindu : Front Page : Decision on expanding alliance after talks with Congress: Karunanidhi

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Decision on expanding alliance after talks with Congress: Karunanidhi

S. Ganesan

Says he will press Centre to prevail upon Karnataka for release of water
“Govindarajan Committee has sought more time”

TIRUCHI: Ties between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Congress remain strong and a decision on expanding the alliance will be taken after consultations between the two parties, said Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi.

The question of alliance would arise only at the time of the elections. “However, the DMK-Congress alliance is strong and friendly. A decision on including other parties in the alliance will be taken after talks with the Congress,” Mr. Karunanidhi said addressing a press conference here on Wednesday.

Commenting on the ‘signals' being sent out by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa on a possible alliance with the Congress, Mr. Karunanidhi remarked that no leader would tell the party cadre to remain without confidence.

Regarding the security provided to Ms. Jayalalithaa, he said whatever security had been given to her while she was Chief Minister continued even now.

On the farmers' demand for gazetting the final award of the Cauvery Tribunal, Mr. Karunanidhi pointed out that legal measures had been initiated to sort out the issue and a case was pending before the Supreme Court. “In the meantime, we are getting as much water as possible through talks between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments on humanitarian grounds. We also need rain,” he observed.

Asked whether he was confident of getting adequate water for irrigation this season, Mr. Karunanidhi said Tamil Nadu would seek the required quantum of water. “If they do not give, we will press the Centre to prevail upon the Karnataka government to release the water.” The Chief Minister said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has not met him on her return from Sri Lanka. “She met me before going to Sri Lanka and said she would press for measures to ensure the security and welfare of Tamils there.”

The Govindarajan Committee, set up to fix fees for schools, had sought some more time to reach a consensus, he said in response to another query.

On price rise, he said the State government had taken all possible steps to minimise the impact of price rise on the people. Ruling out the possibility of reducing sales tax on petrol and diesel, he said the State government had already done so in the past.

Commenting on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that the Supreme Court should not interfere in policy matters of the government, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Prime Minister would have only pointed out that all institutions had their limits.

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