Date:19/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/07/19/stories/2006071910580400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi wants politicians to concentrate on larger issues

Special Correspondent

"How seats are allotted in the Assembly is a non-issue"

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday exhorted politicians to focus on larger issues that affect people and not cast aspersions on small things such as what use certain rooms were put to and how seats were allotted in the Assembly.

Answering questions from reporters, Mr. Karunanidhi said the room where Cabinet meetings used to be held was now being used to receive visiting dignitaries, foreign delegates, Union and other Ministers, officials and other important persons. When Cabinet meetings were held in that room, Ministers had to sit in two rows. Hence, the Cabinet room was shifted to the ground floor where the Legislative Council used to function. It was a larger room and hence the change. There was no other reason.

Charges countered

On the charge that the changes were not made in consultation with the Opposition, Mr. Karunanidhi said it should be raised with the Speaker. In any case, those who had scant regard and respect for democratic norms had no right to speak on such issues.

Citing examples, he asked if the AIADMK regime had discussed with the Opposition major issues such as shifting the Secretariat and allowing the then Chief minister Jayalalithaa's aide Sasikala to sit on the Deputy Speaker's chair when the session was in progress.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that as Opposition leader, Ms. Jayalalithaa's request to enlarge her room by annexing the room of the Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition had been carried out. These were non-issues and there was no need for a debate.

`Speaker's prerogative'

Speaker R. Avudaiappan said a discussion on seating in the House was "regrettable." The Tamil Nadu Assembly Rules (Rule No. 6) gave clear powers to the Speaker on the issue of seating: "Members sit in the House in such order as is determined by the Speaker." Congestion in the House, not politics, was behind the decision for the change.

Sivaji statue issue

Mr. Karunanidhi expressed the hope that the issue surrounding the installation of actor Sivaji Ganesan's statue would be sorted out soon. "Even when Sivaji came to act there were problems. These continue at the time of installation of his statue." He said that the issue came up after the statue was installed and invitations were printed for the inauguration.

Alternative sites were considered following the advice of the court but engineers had told him that the statue could be removed only by cutting the main rod. This would be traumatic for the family of the actor.

Mr. Karunanidhi said the statue did not conceal the Gandhi statue in any manner. Anyone can go to the spot and ascertain this.