CPI(M) opposed customary dinner in 2003 due to drought

Chennai, Sep 2 (UNI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today explained in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that it opposed the customary dinner organised by the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for state legislators in 2003 in view of the severe drought conditions prevailed at that time.

Ms Jayalalithaa had flayed the Left Parties for attending the dinner hosted by the DMK Government yesterday, after criticising her for the same during her previous regime. She also dubbed them as ''opportunists.'' Raising the issue in the House, Ms Balabarathi (CPI-M) said her party had attended the dinner hosted by Ms Jayalalithaa in a five-star hotel in 2001.

As severe drought prevailed in the year 2003 and starvation deaths were reported in the districts of Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur, the party's then flood leader J Hemachandran urged the Government to cancel the programme. The Government also accepted it and called off the dinner, she said.

Stating it was a tradition for the legislators to accept and attend such dinners hosted by the Government, Ms Balabarathi wondered why Ms Jayalalithaa had targeted the Left parties alone.

UNI AKN KVV VD RN1653