Karunanidhi criticises BJP

Tiruchirapalli, Sep 30: DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi took strong exception to the Bharathiya Janata Party's demand for dismissal of the Tamil Nadu Government.

Addresssing a large gathering after laying foundation stone for Rs 144 crore drinking water supply augmentation scheme here last night, he said the BJP leaders, except former Prime Minister A B Vajyapee, were demanding the dismissal of the State Government, despite its good work.

Mr Karunanidhi wanted to know the reason behind the BJP leaders seeking the dismissal of his Government. ''Because we are supplying rice at Rs two a kilo and are providing free power supply to farmers and more importantly, we have said that even Adi Dravidars could become archakas in temples. We have provided reservation for minorities. They cannot tolerate Muslims and Christians coming up in life through better educational and employment opportunities'', he alleged.

The Chief Minister said ''above all, we are implementing the Sethu Samudram Channel Project(SSCP). They do not want Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and myself (Karunanidhi) to get the credit''.

In his address, state Local Administration Minister M K Stalin appealed to the people not to be misled by the agitations organised by the AIADMK claiming that the local bodies were not functioning properly. The party had staged a demonstration in Tiruchirapalli, too, claiming that basic amenities have not been provided, he added.

Mr Stalin said during the past one-and-half years, Rs 184 crore had been allotted to the Tiruchi Corporation for various development schemes. But during the five years of AIADMK rule, the Corporation got only Rs 86 crore, he alleged.

The Minister said during the previous DMK regime, the Corporation was allotted Rs 104.58 crore.

State Transport Minister K N Nehru pointed out that the scheme would provide copious water supply to the extension areas, which were facing shortage of supply now.

UNI