A bid to nullify our good work: DMK

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 13. The AIADMK move to rescind a decision to revive the Legislative Council was prompted by an urge to nullify all good work done by the DMK Government, the party president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, charged today.

Listing many programmes which were either abandoned or ``left to die'' such as the Anna Marumalarchi scheme and the `Namakku naame' scheme, by the AIADMK Government, he said the move to rescind the decision to revive the Council seemed to indicate a hurry which had not been seen in solving the problems of the day including the Cauvery issue.

On the issue of succession in the DMK figuring in the Assembly, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Finance Minister, Mr. C. Ponnaiyan's statement on heirs would have made the TMC very uncomfortable. (The TMC earlier elected Mr. G. K. Vasan, son of G. K. Moopanar, its leader). Congressmen too would not have been amused at the issue being raised, he said and added that since they were alliance partners, they were in no position to raise objections.

On the charge that it was the DMK Government's acceptance of VAT which led to price rise, Mr. Karunanidhi said his party did not accept VAT blindly. After a great deal of discussions with the Union Government, tax on as many as 39 essential items were actually reduced. But the prices of some items went up marginally since tax rates were rationalised to ensure uniform taxation throughout the country. ``This has been blown out of proportion'' in the House, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

His Government made available tax reliefs to the extent of Rs. 2,700 crores. But even after this, the sales tax revenue realised by the Government, which was only Rs.5,023 crores in 1996 (when the DMK came to power), rose to nearly Rs.8,000 crores.

Mr. Karunanidhi suggested that AIADMK Ministers should not lament about DMK men not following the path shown by C. N. Annadurai. The Ministers, who were fighting among themselves to become Chief Minister, should rather continue with their exhibition of devotion to their leader and refrain from commenting on the DMK.

In the evening, Mr. Karunanidhi unveiled a portrait of the LPF leader and MLA, V. Perumal, at the party headquarters. The party leaders led by Mr.Karunanidhi, paid tributes to the memory of Perumal.

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Section  : Southern States
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