Implementation of rice scheme to ease people's burden: TN CM

Chennai, Oct 5 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said implementation of Rs one a kg rice scheme was one of the steps taken by the ruling DMK to ease the burden on the people from spiralling prices.

Replying to a set of questions, Mr Karunanidhi had a dig at his bete noire and AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa for her remarks that his government had not taken any steps to control the rising prices.

Mr Karunanidhi said whenever she raised any issue he countered it with proof following which she dropped them.

He said Jayalalithaa's charge against the government was totally wrong and listed out the steps taken by his government in this regard.

''Provision of Rs one a kg rice to ration card holders, ten condiments at subsidised rate of Rs 50 and issue of essential items through nthe special PDS scheme are the steps taken by the government aimed at controlling the rising prices'', he added.

''It will be difficult for Ms Jayalalithaa to understand this as she was busy instigating her party cadres to organise agitations in every village, while confining herself in airconditioned rooms'', he charged.

Mr Karunanidhi also trained his guns on Ms Jayalalithaa for her critical remarks against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying ''one cannot expect respect from her''.

''Whether it is Prime Minister or President, she treats everybody like an ordinary person'', he added.

''If she wanted she could pass a resolution in the State Assembly urging the Centre to depute military troops to arrest banned LTTE leader V.Prabhakaran and bring him to Chennai, or else question whether India can give training to Lankan military personnel'', Mr Karunanidhi said.

''She will also demand that Prime Minister of India should summon his Sri Lankan counterpart to India to condemn the attacks on Tamil Nadu and also say that I had not done anything for Sri Lankan Tamils and might even demand my government's dismissal saying I am supporting the LTTE'', he noted.

UNI GV KVV AKJ HT1928