The Hindu : Lot more to achieve, says Jayalalithaa

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 01, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Lot more to achieve, says Jayalalithaa

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Dec. 31 . The Governor, P.S. Ramamohan Rao, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, and leaders of various political parties greeted people on the occasion of the New Year.

``May the New Year bring unity and solidarity and resolve among the people of India to take this nation to greater heights of strength and prosperity,'' the Governor said, in his message.

``Last year we have made significant strides in each department. But this is not enough. There is a lot more that we have to achieve,'' Ms. Jayalalithaa said and added that in the New Year, fresh tasks awaited the State. She said many steps were being taken to make Tamil Nadu the number one State. Though drought and deficit were a drag, the State was progressing because of the determination, involvement and courage of its people.

The AICC secretary, G.K. Vasan, said the year was a historic one for the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress, as the TMC merged with the Congress. The Government should find a solution to the Cauvery dispute and work to solve the problems faced by labourers, weavers and government servants, he said.

The TNCC president, S. Balakrishnan, and the TNCC working president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, in a joint message, said development in the State had stagnated and that unemployment, robberies, burglaries, poverty and instances of untouchability had grown. The PMK founder, S. Ramadoss, said that though political parties promise to make Tamil Nadu a poverty-free State, statistics showed that the number of unemployed and those below the poverty line was increasing. Hence, during the New Year, efforts should be focussed on eradicating poverty.

The MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, from his cell in the Vellore jail (where he has been lodged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for his pro-LTTE speech), greeted the people and wished that the spirit of cooperation and unity among the people grew.

The CPI (M) State secretary, N. Varadarajan, said the country's sovereignty and people's unity was being shattered by communal forces.

The CPI State secretary, R. Nallakannu, hoped that the Gujarat incidents and the communal frenzy that followed would not repeat itself in the New Year.

The Puthiya Tamizhagam president, K. Krishnasamy, the MGR Kazhagam president, RM. Veerappan, the INL president, A.M. Abdul Khader, the Muslim Makkal Kazhagam president, A.K. Tajuddin, the DK general secretary, K. Veeramani, the Chief Hereditary Trustee and Muthavalli, Syed Moinuddin, and the Tamil Maanila Muslim League president, S. Sheikh Dawood, were among those who wished the people.

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