TNCC President incurs wrath of DMK Govt

Chennai, Jun 7 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President M Krishnasamy has incurred the wrath of the DMK Government for suggesting that the state Government should emulate Congress ruled states and bring down the price of cooking gas.

Reacting to the TNCC leader's statement that Tamil Nadu should follow Andhra Pradesh Government, which did not give effect to the hike of Rs 50 and the Delhi Government which had decided to pass on only Rs ten to the people, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said the Congress leader should ask those states to follow Tamil Nadu, before giving his advise.

In a statement here, the Minister said a day after the Centre hiked the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had announced two per cent cut in Sales Tax on diesel, incurring an annual loss of Rs 260 crore.

He said the DMK Government had waived farm loans to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore, distributed colour tv sets to 60 lakh people, free gas stoves and cylinders for 11 lakh families, besides implementing a number of welfare schemes.

The DMK Government was also implementing a special ration scheme after the rise in prices of essential commodities and distributing free bus passes, bicycles and note books to students, he said, and wanted to know whether the Andhra Pradesh or Delhi Governments implemented such schemes.

Mr Krishnasamy, who was aware of this, should advise the Congress ruled states to emulate Tamil Nadu, before advising Tamil Nadu to follow Andhra Pradesh and Delhi, Mr Veerasamy said.

UNI WS GKT RL HT1550