Date:25/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/25/stories/2005032515650400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Police got many benefits during my tenure: Karunanidhi

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH 24. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president, M. Karunanidhi, said today many concessions and benefits were provided to the police during his four terms as Chief Minister.

In a statement here, he said he formed the Police Commission after assuming office in 1969. The second commission was set up in 1989.

Under his stewardship, the basic pay of constables was increased from Rs.70 to 200 in 1969 and further to Rs.3,050 in 1996 on the basis of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations and many allowances were provided to the police personnel.

The All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government made a budgetary allocation of only Rs.1,716 crores for the Police Department during 1991-96, while the DMK Government had allocated Rs.3,998 crores from 1996 to 2001, Mr. Karunanidhi claimed.

Action on bonus plea

Referring to the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's charge that he was shedding crocodile tears by demanding a further hike in the allowances for the uniformed personnel, Mr. Karunanidhi said though she called for a general strike for 25 per cent bonus against 20 per cent announced by the previous DMK Government, she had offered only 10 per cent bonus after coming back to power.