DMK to blame for UST: Pondy secular front

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, AUG. 12. A joint meeting of the ruling secular front parties here today charged the DMK with being fully responsible for enforcement of the uniform sales tax in the Union Territory. Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting, Mr. V. Narayanaswamy, PCC president, said the DMK in power in the recent past had given its consent to the Centre to imposing the uniform sales tax as per the recommendations of the Committee of Finance Ministers.

There was also a written commitment by the then Chief Minister, Mr. R. V. Janakiraman, and a compensation was also sought to offset the loss the Union Territory would suffer after the UST came into existence.

Pondicherry became free de jure in 1962 and joined the Five-year Plan process ten years behind the other States. Hence the benefits of the first two Five Year plans were lost to Pondicherry, Mr. Narayanaswamy said.

A team of leaders of the secular front had in the last few days met the Prime Minister and the Union Home and Finance Ministers in New Delhi urging them to put off implementation of the UST for Pondicherry by ten years.

The Central Ministers assured the delegation that the grievances would be addressed. The Finance Minister also suggested that the team take up the matter with the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and urge them to come to the help of Pondicherry. The secular front leaders would meet the Chief Ministers of these States and seek their cooperation.

Mr. Narayanaswamy said the delegation would also meet the leader of the sub-committee of Finance Ministers of State Governments in New Delhi on August 17 and urge it to exempt Pondicherry from the UST regime.

Mr. T. Murugan, the CPI(M) leader, blamed the imposition of the UST on the complete cooperation extended by the Janakiraman regime. Now the two DMK Central Ministers should ensure that Pondicherry was exempted from the ``UST nuisance'', he said.

Mr. N. Kalainathan, CPI State secretary, said the very implementation of the UST in Pondicherry was violative of the Constitution. For, the sub-committee`s recommendations should not straightaway be implemented without being referred to the Inter- State council, a constitutional body.

Mr. K. Natarajan and Mr. A. Anbalagana MLA (from AIADMK), Mr. V. Balaji, Mr. Pratapraj Odayar and Mr. V. Bhalan (TMC), Mr. E. Ganesan (JD-S) and Mr. Leon (RPI) attended the meeting.

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Section  : Southern States
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