MK criticises BJP for demanding dismissal of DMK Govt

Tiruchirapalli, Sep 28: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today strongly criticised BJP for demanding dismissal of DMK government. Addressing a press conference here, Mr Karunanidhi said the police had already arrested ten people in connection with the attack on BJP headquarters in Chennai, recently.

On 'Ram Sethu' issue, he said the it was settled and is over. Referring to the proposed state-wide bandh on October 1, Mr Karunanidhi said the bandh was not announced by the government.

''A decision to call for bandh was taken at an all party meeting in which the ruling DMK is a coalition partner. The bandh will be conducted in a peaceful manner,'' he said.

Mr Karunanidhi said the government would make all efforts to convince the Union Planning Comission, which was rejecting the Southern Railway's proposal of electrification of Villupuram-Dindigul section stating that it was not economically viable. To a question, he said the government would take a final decision on establishing a State Security Commission and Police Complaining Authority after seeking opinion from legal experts.

On Communist Party of India's (CPI) proposed nation-wide stir from October 1 to 10 to protest against the price hike, Mr Karunanidhi said the stir would be suitable for other states and not for Tamil Nadu.

The prices of essential commodities were under check in Tamil Nadu and the government was supplying rice at Rs two per kg, he added.

Mr Karunanidhi ruled out any possibility for a mid-term poll to Lok Sabha.

Referring to the 33 per cent reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies, he said he had voiced this demand with the people concerned whenever he visited New Delhi.

He said the state-owned Tamil Nadu Cable Television Corporation would commence its operation from April 14 next year.

When asked to comment on controversial Indo-US nuclear deal, Mr Karunanidhi evaded an answer saying, ''It is not the right time or place to discuss the issue''.

He said the government would consider imposing a ban on cell phones in educational institutions, especially in schools.

On Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President Ramadoss' statement that the ''Zameendari System'' was once again surfacing in Tamil Nadu, Mr Karunanidhi said ''he could not understand what Mr Ramadoss actually mean by making such a statement''.

Mr Karunanidhi said the formation of a new district with Ariyalur as its headquarters would be finalised only after completion of the ongoing delimitation drill.

UNI