Police officials transfer routine during poll time: TN CM

Coimbatore, Oct 10: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said transfer of police officials during election time by the Election Commission (EC) was ''routine and nothing new.'' In an apparent reference to the transfer of Madurai City Police Commissioner yesterday, he said during the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, IPS Premkumar was transferred, while Chennai Police Commissioner Nataraj was transferred before the Assembly polls in 2006.

Asked by reporters here about CPI leader T Pandian's statement that there were 'scratches in the DMK,' Mr Karunanidhi said 'the scratches would heal on their own and no treatment was required'.

To a question about the statement of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa that law and order was worsening in the State, he reported that it was due to her. 'We will take care of maintaining the law and order situation', he asserted.

Asked about her comments on Chikungunya, Mr Karunanidhi quipped that 'lies have become her way of life.' ''She claimed that six lakh people were hit by Chikungunya, which meant one out of ten people,'' he noted.

The Chief Minister said Chief Secretary L K Tripathy had replied to Ms Jayalalithaa's allegation that 293 people died due to Chikungunya in the State. No casualty had occurred, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi is here in connection with poll campaign.

On Ms Jayalalithaa's statement that she signed 60,000 files during her five-year term, Mr Karunanidhi said statistics showed that from May 15, 2001 to May 10, 2006, the number of files signed were 20,049 and 1112 files were not signed. Some of them were returned, he added. Mr Karunanidhi alleged that an important file relating to the spending of Rs 1,000 crore by Secretaries was not signed by Ms Jayalalithaa. Secretaries under various heads had spent Rs 1852 crore in tsunami-hit areas as per a Government Order (GO), he added.

He alleged that even in the ratification signature in January, 2006, she had not signed that file and he had to sign it after assuming office. He could have taken action against those Secretaries, but he had not done it, he added.

To a question on 31 rebel Congress workers, who had filed their nominations and were fighting the DMK and alliance partners in the Coimbatore Corporation poll, the Chief Minister said he had also received information on this issue. He hoped Congress leaders would take action against the party workers.

Asked if he would meet Kerala Chief Minister V S Achutanandan to discuss the issue of raising the height of Mullaiperiyar Dam, Mr Karunanidhi said he planned to call an all party meeting after the panchayat polls to discuss the issue. Asked if he would endorse Dalit Panther of India (DPI) President Thol Thirumavalavan's demand for the release of Nalini, convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi murder case, he said he would he happy if Nalini was released. However, he would not demand her release, he added.

The Chief Minister said when he demitted office during 2001, the state finance deficit was Rs 28,000 crore and when Ms Jayalalithaa left office in May 2006, the deficit had doubled to Rs 58,000 crore.

Because of the able administration in the last three to four months, the financial position had improved and the Government was in a position to implement announced schemes, he added.

When asked whether any law would be introduced to stop the auctioning of the Village Panchayat post, he said he would discuss it with all political parties to enact a law to stop the practice.

Mr Karunanidhi said at present the budget allocation for local bodies was two per cent and it would be enhanced in future budgets.

Giving details on various heads, he said the amount had been allocated to local bodies for 2006-07.

Asked about the allegations of some farmers that small areas had been allocated, instead of the announced two acre land, he said in some areas, it was allocated according to the cost of land. The farmers were happy and only a few political parties were not happy about the decision, he added.

The Chief Minister said he would write a letter to Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for setting up the Salem Railway Division soon.

UNI