TN govt pays Rs 16.53 crore daily as interest

Chennai, June 26 (UNI) The DMK government is paying whopping Rs 16.53 crore as interest per day, for the debt left unpaid by the previous AIADMK regime.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi made the disclosure, while referring to Ms Jayalalithaa's charge that the previous DMK government, in 2001, had left a debt burden of Rs 36,000 crore, forcing her government to pay interest of Rs 11 crore a day.

Clarifying that it was not Rs 36,000 crore, but Rs 28,685.22 crore, Mr Karunanidhi said it was but natural for any government to go for loans to undertake developmental schemes.

However, Ms Jayalalithaa, who was pointing an accusing finger at the DMK government, should realise her government had left behind a huge debt, which as on March 31, 2006 stood at Rs 56,094.11 crore.

To clear the debt, the DMK government had to repay Rs 4695 crore during 2006-07 and the interest part alone came to Rs 16.53 crore a day, he said and wanted to know if Ms Jayalalithaa was aware of this.

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