Ramadoss continues tirade against Karunanidhi

Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, Aug 16: Drawing a parallel with the Left parties taking up cudgels against the policies of the Centre despite extending outside support to the UPA Government, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder-leader S Ramadoss today claimed that his party was questioning the actions of the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu only in the interests of the general public.

Addressing newspersons at his Thailapuram farmhouse here, he pointed out how the Left parties were taking to the streets on various issues when the Government's decisions were against its policies and programmes. However, when his party, an ally of the Government, sought to do so in the State, it was dubbed as a move to develop the party and he was ridiculed, he lamented.

Taking strong exception to DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi criticising his party for taking potshots at the Government, Dr Ramadoss said he was hurt at his remarks that his party was attempting to deteriorate the law and order situation in the State.

He parried a question on Mr Karunanidhi's statement that the time had come to take a decision about the continuance of alliance with the PMK, stating that he was leaving it for the reporters to imagine.

However, he maintained that there was no threat to the stability of the DMK Government, which enjoyed outside support from the Congress, PMK and Left parties.

Dr Ramadoss noted that though the Left parties vociferously criticised the UPA Government and stalled several Government moves, no party derided them or charged them with an attempt to destroy peace. Instead, either the Prime Minister or the senior leaders of the coalition partners met the Leftist leaders to iron out the differences, or a Coordination Committee meeting was convened.

In Tamil Nadu, no such mechanism was followed and no effort was made to thrash out differences, he alleged, taking a dig at Mr Karunanidhi.

The PMK chief recalled the Chief Minister's words that ''I would say that the issues relating to making a coalition successful are interlinked with the issues leading to the formation of the coalition. In my view, this linkage is important'' and said it holds good even today.

Rejecting Mr Karunanidhi's allegation that the party incited violence in the State, he pointed out the various acts of violence in the State recently and asked what was the Government doing about it.

UNI