Date:15/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/15/stories/2008091554920600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Joint effort needed to tackle terrorism: CPI(M)

Special Correspondent

CPI(M) will ally only with parties which respect its policies
Economic development of State affected by power cuts

Udhagamandalam: The Union and state governments and security forces should make concerted efforts to effectively check the activities of terrorists, said the CPI(M) Central Committee member W.R.Varadharajan here on Sunday.

He expressed the regret that serial blasts have become a regular occurrence. Steps should be taken immediately to deal with the flood situation in Bihar and Assam and relief measures stepped up, he told reporters here.

On the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal, he said that the statements made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ran contrary to the situation on the ground in the United States.

Claiming that whatever stand the U.S. takes, it will affect independent thinking of India on the nuclear front, he said that his party was for a patriotic stand on the issue. Opining that it will not be easy for the Manmohan Singh Government to continue, Mr. Varadharajan said that the country is heading for an early general election. A formation without the Congress or the BJP will come to power.

The stand of the CPI(M) at the national level and in Tamil Nadu will be decided by the Central Committee. It will ally only with parties which respect its policies. The CPI(M) will never be part of a marriage of convenience.

The economic development of Tamil nadu has been affected by the power cut. A major contributory factor was the non implementation power generation related schemes over the last 15 years. The Centre and the State should speed up the Koodankulam power project.

He asked the State government to convene an all party meeting to discuss the power situation.