'Files to speak against Jaya on Titanium project'

Chennai, Aug 1: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said his charges that the previous Jayalalithaa regime had given its consent for the Titanium dioxide project was based on official records and statements made by the then Industries Minister on the floor of the assembly.

Answering a set of questions, he said Ms Jayalalithaa had threatened to file civil and criminal cases against him as she was angry with him for exposing her in the ''deal''.

Reiterating the charge, the Chief Minister said Ms Jayalalithaa had entered into an agreement with Tata in 2002 itself for implementing the project and this could be proved by official records. ''The files will speak in a court of law, if Ms Jayalalithaa files cases against him,'' he said.

The previous Jayalalithaa regime had signed the MoU for the project was evident from the fact that the then Industries Minister Nainar Nagendran had told the State Assembly on July 29, 2004 that the MoU for the titanium dioxide project was signed three and a half years ago and the feasibility study was now going on.

The minister again made a statement in the House on March 31, 2005 that the project would be implemented with a total investment of Rs 3,000 crore and in the first phase Rs 750 crore would be invested. This would provide employment to more than 3000 people, Mr Karunanidhi said quoting the Minister.

Answering another question, Mr Karunanidhi said he did not mean CPI state unit secretary D Pandian had met him on several occasions with personal obligations, when he said the Left party leader could have clarified with him about the Titanium project when he met him several times for other reasons. Stating that there was no such clause in the MoU signed by the DMK government with Tata Steel that the government would compensate Tata to the tune of Rs 200 crore, if it failed to acquire lands for the project, the Chief Minister said Mr Pandian could have cross checked with him about this when he met him on several occasions, before going to the media.

On Ms Jayalalithaa's claim that she never spent government money for her personal propaganda, he said during her regime, the AIADMK leader had placed an advertisement in the US based Wall Street Journal for Rs 3.75 crore, listing out the achievements of her government.

Mr Karunanidhi, replying to another question, said the people should realise the truth when someone, with ulterior political motives, tried to stall projects implemented for the welfare of the people. When the government wanted to do something good for the people, such hurdles, delay the projects, he regretted.

UNI