Southern States - Tamil Nadu

DMK moots all-party meet

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI March 30. The DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, today suggested that a meeting of all-party leaders be held to evolve measures for holding elections to some `reserved' panchayats, where Dalits are not able to contest.

Addressing newspersons here, he said it was unfortunate that panchayat elections there could not be held for quite a long time. It was a ``shame on democracy'' and blot on freedom of the people.

Criticising the State's budget proposals, Mr. Karunanidhi said this was the first time rice was brought under the purview of sales tax. On the other hand, the previous DMK regime, apart from removing the multipoint tax on various commodities, introduced a single-point tax system.

He indirectly made an appeal to the people to agitate against the new levies.

Meanwhile, the party general secretary, K.Anbazhagan, in an appeal to the cadres, said it was their duty to explain the negative impact of various budget proposals and asked them to conduct public meetings in all towns, unions and panchayats.

Welcomes peace talks

Mr. Karunanidhi welcomed the proposed peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Thailand.

He said the venue of the talks should not be a debating issue.

Appeal criticised

The TNCC president, E.V.K.S.Elangovan, has criticised the MDMK leader, Vaiko, for his appeal to the Cente to conduct the talks in India. India should not give room to the LTTE who, he said, was responsible for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

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