The Hindu : Karunanidhi is not able to answer my questions: CM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 09, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi is not able to answer my questions: CM

By K. Subramanian

KANCHEEPURAM FEB. 8. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today launched a tirade against the DMK and said the party's political future would become a question mark if its leader continued with his current approach.

Describing the DMK leader, M. Karunanidhi, and his partymen as `half-baked politicians', Ms. Jayalalithaa said they were getting frustrated and angry when she exposed them on various issues.

The Chief Minister was addressing a public function here after inaugurating several projects in Kancheepuram district — including the laying of the foundation stone for a Rs. 233-crore power sub-station at Melakottaiyur and inauguration of a Rs. 33-crore Alandur underground drainage scheme — , all worth about Rs. 447 crores.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said Mr. Karunanidhi and his `mouthpieces' (`Thuthipaadigal') were not courageous enough to answer two questions — why he as MLA did not turn up in the Assembly? Why was his son, M.K. Stalin, not participating in the proceedings? — raised by her in the House a week ago. Mr. Stalin, said to be the Thalapathi for the DMK was "hiding in fear" in the Assembly.

Instead of answering her questions, Karunanidhi, his son and their `kuttichaathans' were now pouncing on the Speaker, K. Kalimuthu.

The Chief Minister recalled that Mr. Karunanidhi, who had criticised the BJP using the words `Pandaaram' and `Paradesi', when the AIADMK had an alliance with that party in 1998, entered into an alliance with it in 1999. She said Mr. Karunanidhi was an opportunist.

Although it was a custom not to speak politics at Government functions she had no alternative as it now became a people's problem, said Ms. Jayalalithaa.

The Chief Minister explained the steps taken by the Government for solving the drinking water problem, including the inauguration of the new Veeranam scheme and implementation of a compulsory rainwater harvesting system in all buildings to improve the groundwater table. It was also proposed to bring water from the Kolavai tank in Chengalpattu to Chennai city.

V. Somasundram, Minister for Handlooms and Textiles, said the AIADMK Government had sold silk sarees worth more than Rs. 47 crores, out of Rs. 86-crore stocks piled up in the State. Similarly, handloom export from Tamil Nadu touched Rs. 146 crores after the Government had come to power.

B. Valarmathi, Minister for Social Welfare, highlighted the various achievements of the Government.

Mr. Kalimuthu said the Opposition parties were deliberately finding fault with the schemes launched by the AIADMK Government, and said the Chief Minister was taking up all projects only for the welfare of the people.

Tight security arrangements were made for the Chief Minister's visit. She arrived here by helicopter and left for Chennai in the evening.

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Karunanidhi is not able to answer my questions: CM