Date:08/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/08/stories/2008060857590100.htm

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Allies are being consulted: Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

Ramadoss indulging in criticism “only to target me and the government”

CM justifies fee hike for management quota students
Urges colleges to give up demand for further hike

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Saturday rejected the criticism of PMK leader S. Ramadoss that the allies were not consulted before taking major decisions, saying that the PMK representatives themselves had attended the meeting to discuss the fee structure in engineering colleges in the State.

Pointing out that the fee was still low in Tamil Nadu compared to other States, Mr. Karunanidhi said: “We have not increased the fee for the government quota. Despite this, Dr. Ramadoss is criticising us. We have to assume that he is doing this only to target me and the government.”

In a statement, the Chief Minister said: “PMK Legislature Party leader G.K. Mani and deputy leader K. Arumugam attended the meeting convened by Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy on March 5 and May 20. I am surprised that Dr. Ramadoss has suppressed the truth and criticised the government.”

Reacting to Dr. Ramadoss’ statement that the Congress discussed all issues with its allies that were part of the UPA government, the Chief Minster said: “While at the Centre there is a coalition government, in Tamil Nadu the DMK is in power. Still, we consult our allies on various issues. But it is not possible to consult them each time we sign a file.”

Justifying the hike in the annual fee for students admitted under management quota in self-financing engineering colleges, Mr. Karunanidhi said though the prescribed fee was only Rs. 32,500 last year, the self-financing colleges collected lakhs of rupees from the students.

“The prescribed fee structure was only on paper. The Justice Balasubramanian Committee fixed a new fee structure in order to protect the students from being fleeced by colleges and to help them get a minimum of Rs. 62,500 as education loan from banks,” he explained.

The Chief Minster called upon the managements of the engineering colleges to give up their demand for further increase in the fee, saying that the objective of the government was to ensure that education did not become a commodity.