Date:29/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/29/stories/2007092961611000.htm

Tamil Nadu

Strike not sponsored by Government: Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

“It is to draw attention to people’s demand in a peaceful manner”

TIRUCHI: The October 1 general strike in support of the Sethusamudram project is not government-sponsored, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has said.

“The strike has been called by alliance parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, to draw attention to people’s demand in a peaceful manner. It is not a Government announcement,” Mr. Karunanidhi told reporters here on Friday to a query on the Madras High Court’s observations on the issue.

Mr. Karunanidhi said he saw no immediate possibility for a general election. “How can those running a political party say that they are not ready to face an election?” he retorted when asked whether the DMK was ready for such an eventuality. “We would do as you wish,” he quipped when asked whether he wished the present alliance should continue.

On the Bharathiya Janata Party’s memorandum to the President seeking the dismissal of the DMK government on the ground that the law and order situation in the State had deteriorated, Mr. Karunanidhi expressed surprise and said that leaders of the stature of L.K. Advani should dare to say such a big lie.

Their conscience knew the truth. Ten persons were arrested immediately after the attack on the BJP office. “It is contradictory that those belonging to a party of ahimsa moorthies (pacifists) ruling at Gujarat are demanding the dismissal of the DMK Government.”

Commenting on the nation-wide campaign planned by the Communist Party of India against price rise, the Chief Minister said the CPI contention might be true in other States but not in Tamil Nadu. Rice and other essential commodities were supplied through the public distribution system here to keep prices under control.

New industrial policy

The Cabinet has discussed the new industrial policy and decided to ensure that industrial growth was spread evenly across the State. Tamil Nadu had so far attracted about Rs.12,000 crore of foreign direct investments. There was no discrimination between the northern and southern districts and the Government was striving to remove inequities that prevailed earlier. Lands were being acquired in Tirunelveli, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi and Salem for setting up information technology industries. The hurdles in executing the Sathankulam project had been overcome and the Nanguneri project was now being split into different components, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

On providing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislative bodies, the Chief Minister said he had been reminding those concerned during his visits to New Delhi. “I hope your question draws the Centre’s attention.”

Mr. Karunanidhi also disclosed that the Government Cable TV Corporation would start functioning from Tamil New Year’s day. On the plea for a ban on use of mobile phones by students in schools, the Chief Minister said it needed to be considered as it affected academic development besides leading to other consequences.