No re-opening of talks with TMC: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI, MARCH 3. The composition of the expanded DMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu will become clear in the next couple of days, the DMK President and Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, said today, even while declaring that the party will field ``more new faces'' and give adequate representation to women in the coming Assembly polls.

The political parties, which would fight under the NDA banner, will be known ``in a day or two'', Mr. Karunanidhi said, talking to newsmen here. After this, seat-sharing talks between the DMK and its allies through the respective party committees will begin.

To a question, he said there was no scope for re-opening talks with the TMC, as that party's general secretary, Mr. K. S. Alagiri himself had dismissed as `mere pastime' his earlier talks with the Speaker, Mr. P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan and the DMK's Youth Wing secretary, Mr. M. K. Stalin, on the alliance issue.

Asserting that the State machinery was fully prepared for a one- day poll, Mr. Karunanidhi, to another query, said action would be taken against anyone who instigated violence, irrespective of party affiliations. Terming the mushrooming of caste-based parties in the run-up to the polls as unfortunate, Mr. Karunanidhi recalled how the DMK had tried to redress the grievances of various groups in the past. He assured that if returned to power, the DMK would again invite their leaders to resolve their problems.

Denying the AIADMK leader, Ms. Jayalalitha's charge that the DMK Government had deliberately slowed down action against Mr. Ku. Pa. Krishnan, former AIADMK Minister, for supporting the DMK, Mr. Karunanidhi said the investigating agency had not completed the probe in the case against Mr. Krishnan.

In fact, investigations of corruption charges against Ms. Jayalalitha in the Meena advertising company case, granite case, foreign exchange violation case, purchase of over 1000 acres of land in foreign country, as also against eight IAS officers were still going on, he said.

Ms. Jayalalitha, who was demanding that cases against Mr. Ku. Pa. Krishnan, should be expedited, had taken several steps to delay the hearing of the cases against her, he said.

If a charge-sheet was filed against Mr. Krishnan, then the position would be reviewed, he said, replying to a query on Mr.Krishnan's party, `Tamizhar Bhoomi' seeking to join NDA.

The differences expressed by some NDA partners over the Union Budget will not affect the stability of the NDA Government, Mr. Karunanidhi said, adding that he had himself expressed displeasure over the Sethusamudram project not finding a place in the Budget.

Mr. Karunanidhi also condemned the action of the Taliban militia for damaging the Buddha statues in Afghanistan.

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Section  : Southern States
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