Karunanidhi reiterates his stand on 'red tape'

Chennai, Aug 10: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, who has assumed office for the record fifth time, said he was against the 'red tape' and never allowed files to pile-up.

Inaugurating various schemes at suburban Avadi last evening, Mr Karunanidhi dismissed the allegations that 'lakhs of files were piling up on his table.' Stating that he has been clearing the files on a daily basis, the octogenarian Chief Minister said if he could not clear the files during the day, he would call his secretaries to his residence and work till 2200 hrs to clear them.

''Only after clearing the files, I will take up other work,'' he said, adding, he had been following the practice since 1967, when he became the Chief Minister for the first time.

He said in his fifth tenure, a number of files of the previous AIADMK government came on his table for clearance. Some of them, which warranted immediate action, remained unopened, he said.

''But I am not allowing any file to take rest. On the other hand, I will make them run as I never accepted red tape,'' Mr Karunanidhi said.

UNI