“People of TN know who adopts double standards”

Joining issue with Jayalalitha, who had accused him of adopting double standards and proving again that he was an expert in hoodwinking, DMK President Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi said the people of Tamil Nadu knew very well who adopted double standards, still he was reminding a few if they had perhaps forgotten.
It was Jayalalitha who severely rebuked judges in the Assembly and the very next day told the House that she was withdrawing whatever she said the previous day.
She informed the Assembly that he (Kalaignar) approached Indira Gandhi in 1972 to escape from Sarkaria Commission investigation and withdrew Cauvery water case. Immediately S.R. Balasubramanian (who was Leader of the Opposition then) rose up and said that what she stated was wrong and Sarkaria Commission came several years later in 1977. Then she managed telling it was slip of the tongue.”
In an interview to ‘The Indian Express’, she said that LTTE should be supported and Karunanidhi was not extending any help to them. But after some time she herself moved a resolution in the Assembly, for arresting LTTE leader Prabhakaran and bringing him to India.
In a statement issued on 8.5.1995 she said if anybody tried to find fault with Sasikala, action would be taken against them. In another statement on 27.8.1996 she announced that she was withdrawing all her connections with Sasikala from that day, but again brought her back.
Some months back she invited Kudankulam protestors to the Secretariat and talked to them, sent them to the PM along with TN Finance Minister, adopted a Cabinet resolution to stop works in the plant and now tried to suppress them.
Resenting Jayalalitha repeatedly accusing him of betraying TN in Cauvery issue to which he had to reply every time, Kalaignar said her talk on ‘betrayal’ was self-defeating because she wrote letter to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that MGR could not function and hence he should be removed and she be made the Chief Minister.
Kalaignar said he had already replied in ‘Murasoli’ on 2.5.2002 to her charge that he did not object to the construction of Hemavathi dam. Only at the stage of planning and starting construction of Hemavathi and Kabini dams by Karnataka that the DMK rule headed by Anna was formed. After Anna’s demise, the resolution he introduced and adopted was ‘The House registers its deep anguish over Karnataka implementing Hemavathi, Kabini, Herangi and Suvarnavathi dam projects without getting prior consent of Tamil Nadu by properly informing it.
Next, she had stated that he withdrew the case without informing the Assembly and Council and it was also betrayal. Jayalalitha and the then Minister S.Ponnaiyan said this same lie in the Assembly and when the DMK refuted it and brought a Privilege motion against both of them, she saved herself from the situation, and their charge was proved to be unadulterated lie, Kalaignar said.
Only on the promise of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the case was withdrawn, that too vide the decision taken in the all-party leaders meeting with the condition that the case could be filed if TN government wished for. But as talks were not fruitful the state government came to the conclusion of demanding a tribunal, which was set up during V.P.Singh period due to the efforts of the DMK government, following which an interim order was issued by the Tribunal. “Only this has been stated by Jayalalitha in her own ‘cultured’ words in her statement as ‘Karunanidhi who is accustomed to only betraying Tamil Nadu’, Kalaignar pointed out.
Next she had found fault at his response that he did not want to reply based on press reports and did not want to give room for creating unnecessary differences between the two states due to such replies. He wanted people to understand which was better, whether holding talks to the extent possible and amicably resolve the issue and pulling quarrel by loose talk.
Referring to her charge that he could not even convene the meeting of the Cauvery River Authority despite being in power at the Centre and state in the past, Kalaignar said the Authority itself came into effect due to his efforts.
But after the announcement of setting up of the CRA, on 11.8.1998, she vehemently said “The Authority headed by the PM has no power to order and implement anything relating to Cauvery. This new Authority had been set up only as a debating forum unable to solve the Cauvery issue and preventing taking of any decision. There will not be any damage to Karnataka and only Tamil Nadu will be affected.”
The first meeting of the CRA was held in New Delhi on 28.10.1998 presided over by the PM and besides him, Kerala Chief Minister E.K.Nayanar and Puducherry Chief Minister R.V.Janakiraman participated. The second meeting under Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee was held on 14.7.2000 in which besides him, S.M.Krishna (Karnataka), E.K.Nayanar (Kerala) and P.Shanmugam (Puducherry) participated. In that meeting, Karnataka agreed to release water due to Tamil Nadu till June in the next 30 days. “What reply will Jayalalitha give for the CRA meeting when I was CM and TN thus getting benefits?”, Kalaignar asked.
Jayalalitha told the Assembly on 22.2.2002 that the ADMK came out of the BJP-led alliance not accepting the ‘toothless’ and ‘non-functional’ CRA. In the Cabinet meeting on 21.6.2002 she declared that TN would not hereafter participate in meetings of the CRA, which was unable to effectively enforce its orders in the absence of any power. She announced this without realizing its consequences.
When asked about the decision of the ADMK government, Kalaignar said he told the media that ‘it was not a wise decision’ and all parties must be coordinated to get the intervention and assistance of the Centre to get sufficient water for Kuruvai cultivation. Only the tendency for changing all decisions taken during DMK rule was predominant in ADMK regime. During DMK rule efforts were made for getting water for Cauvery irrigation areas at the appropriate time. ADMK regime refused to attend CRA meets.”
After refusing to attend meeting, Jayalalitha the next day said, “Let us see if ‘invited’. But as far as he was concerned even while in opposition, he wrote to PM Vajpayee on 5.7.2002, to convene the meeting of CRA and in his reply on10.7.2002 the PM had said that he would look into it, accordingly the CRA was convened.
Believing that people would have forgotten her derisive comments about CRA, Jayalalitha attended the meeting in New Delhi on 27 August 2002. But instead of speaking cordially and find ways to get water, in her ill temperament she walked out forgetting the urgent importance of the issue. Her walk out set a precedence for the present walk out of Karnataka CM. But the affected were farmers of TN and their livelihood, Kalaignar said.
For the CRA meeting on 29.11.2002, the Karnataka CM reached Delhi on the previous day itself. But Jayalalitha cancelled her Delhi trip promising to attend till the last minute. The losers were only farmers of the state.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court pulled up the counsel for Tamil Nadu K.K.Venugopal for the severely objectionable letter Jayalalitha addressed to the PM expressing lack of confidence in the CRA and directed to withdraw the letter within four days. The counsel told, the court that the TN CM would again write to the PM soon withdrawing her earlier letter and expressing confidence in CRA. Accordingly in a letter she wrote to the PM on 16.11.2002, she said she had personally great regard for him and forgetting whatever she had already told she had confidence in the CRA.
“It is this Jayalalitha who assumed dual role says that I am expert in hoodwinking and betrayed on Cauvery issue. Is it proper and just for a Chief Minister to throw away standard and culture and use words in a haphazardous manner like this?” Kalaignar asked.
Pointing out his statement that ‘the Centre and State authorities should invite important representatives of Kudankulam protestors for talks, promise them to take all preventive measures to avert any danger, and also do the needful to complete them. This government should consider the protestors also as our people and not as if they are enemies.” In her statement Jayalalitha had said. “Thus Karunanidhi has exhaustively roared” (Ú£o KH¡»æU¡»wh®) Kalaignar asked people to see for themselves how submissively and with concern he had written and what sort of good cultur (?) with which Jayalalitha had reacted.
After reading his statement the commeners of that area spoke to him welcoming and appreciating it and met former MLA Appavu and told him. But Jayalalitha had said that he had made a ‘somersault’ in six months. But he did not know to make somersaults like her alternatively changing her stands.
In the statement issued on 10.9.2011 Jayalalitha said ‘no work shall be  further carried out until a peaceful solution is reached in Kudankulam nuclear power  project issue.” In the letter written to the Prime Minister on Sep.19 she asked for stopping works. On Sep.21 the protestors meet her at the Secretariat and thank her for the steps she had been taking. Following that, the Cabinet meets urgently on Sep.22 and adopts a resolution urging the Centre to halt works in Kudankulam until the fears of the local people are cleared.
The same Jayalalitha, who said all these to attract the protestors in a letter on 31.3.2012 demanded that the entire 2,000 MW power to be generated in KNPP should be allotted to Tamil Nadu ‘which is somersault. Aren’t the KNPP protestors laughing at the CM? What is double stand?” Kalaignar asked.
Next, despite replying to it several times Jayalalitha had accused the DMK rule for power shortage. The truth can be understood from a report on Sep.26. TNERC member K.Venugopal said, “Tamil Nadu would add 3,000 MW of power in the next six months through its power projects in North Chennai, Vallur and Mettur.” If they understand that this 3,000 MW of power is to be obtained from the projects started during DMK rule, they will not be muddying that the DMK government did nothing for power generation.
Now it is reported that power will be generated in KNPP only next year. If Jayalalitha had not encouraged the protestors to halt the works and cooperated by explaining true position, power generation would have started by the middle of this year and the present shortage would not have happened. Hence, for this power shortage and outrage the only reason is her negative action, Kalaignar asserted.
Now she has said the welfare assistance for Kudankulam area with Rs.500 crore will be done after peace is restored there. She announced months back after a decision in the Cabinet on 19.3.2012 that Rs.500 crore would be allocated for taking up development works including housing and streets. But not even one rupee was spent so far and only after he pointed out, she says that those works will be taken up after peace is restored. If works were started immediately after announcement the people of the area would have developed confidence and peace might have been restored. Hence Jayalalitha’s actions were the reason for the stir to continue there.
“Finally she has said that I am issuing contradictory statements and accustomed to fish in troubled waters”, Kalaignar said appealing to the people of TN, “You would have read her statement. You also read this detailed reply of me. I request you to come to the conclusion whose utterances are contradictory diverting attention by distortions and reductions, who is fishing in troubled waters and who issues statement without minimum culture and decency”.
“Jayalalitha has advised me to stop releasing contradictory statements in view of interests of Tamils. Only in consideration of the interests of Tamils I am writing daily. I don’t have the idea of stopping writing on the advice of Jayalalitha”, Kalaignar asserted.

DMK Will back resolution against retail FDI: Kalaignar

DMK President Kalaignar M Karunanidhi on Oct.1 kept up pressure on the UPA to rollback its decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in the retail sector, saying the Party will support any resolution in Parliament against it.
“If a resolution is moved in Parliament against allowing FDI in the retail sector by opposition parties, we will support it. The status of our relationship is one thing, the difference of opinions is another. One won’t affect the other,” said Kalaignar
Speaking to reporters after an emergency meeting of his party’s working committee, Kalaignar said DMK representatives at the recent meeting of the UPA’s Coordination Committee had made clear their difference of opinion with the Centre.
“There are going to be no knee-jerk reactions to the Prime Minister’s statement after the UPA Coordination Committee meeting that reforms would continue. We are confident he will reconsider his statement,” said Kalaignar.
Kalaignar said no one from the DMK would join the Ministry. Two of the DMK’s Cabinet Ministers in the UPA government, A. Raja and Dayanidhi Maran, resigned in the wake of the 2G spectrum case and the party has so far not sought replacements for them. Thiru M.K. Alagiri is the only Cabinet Minister from the DMK and the party has four Ministers of State.
“There has been a lot of speculation. I can categorically say that no new DMK ministers of State will be appointed in the Cabinet reshuffle,” said Kalaignar.
He criticised Jayalalithaa, saying she would have won praise of the Supreme Court if she had first accepted the Prime Minister’s grant, at the recent meeting of the Cauvery River Authority, of 9000 cuft water from the Cauvery. Instead, she had straight away moved the Supreme Court, he noted.
Out of 329 members of the Executive Committee 257 and out of 35 special invitees 31 attended the meeting, Kalaignar informed adding seven resolutions were adopted the important of which was on agitation.
Asked about the chances for the formation of a third front in the present political situation, Kalaignar said the question should be put to those who were now involved in that efforts and ‘not to us who have no such thinking.’
He said issues such as diesel price hike, frequent changes of officials and ministers and now the resignation of the Speaker since the ADMK assumed power, had been covered in the resolutions.
When asked for his opinion on the talks of earlier Lok Sabha elections, Kalaignar said he did not believe in astrology.
Asked for his advice to Centre and State government in the handling of Kudankulam protests, Kalaignar said the Centre should not act like the State government between devil and deep sea. Kudankulam issue has a long history. When the project was started for increasing power generation and useful to the country, the DMK welcomed it and now also welcome. But when voices of danger to people and damage to their means of livelihood, were raised, Jayalalitha, immediately adopted a Cabinet resolution for halt of works and sent it to the Centre. Thereafter without making efforts to invite protestors and clarifying and pacifying them, she thinks the protests could be suppressed, which we condemn, Kalaignar said.
When asked whether DMK workers participating in the human chain protest would not get provoked on seeing the erasing of his name in the plaque in front of the Secretariat and a new one with Jayalalitha’s name placed nearby, Kalaignar casually dismissed it saying, “There are petty matters.”
Kalaignar, who is also the chairman of the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) said the presence of Sri Lankan military in Tamil areas would be discussed at the TESO meeting to be held on October 3.
He said the Tamils held a demonstration in Kilinochi on September 27, demanding withdrawal of the Army from their areas. “But it fell on the deaf ears. We will discuss the issue in the TESO meeting,” he said.
As regards the State Electricity Minister’s allegation that the Centre had betrayed Tamil Nadu when it came to allotting more power, Kalaignar said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa used to blame the DMK government for the power shortage and now her Minister was blaming the Centre after he had given a detailed explanation on the efforts taken to augment power supply.
He said the ADMK government had in a short span of one year and a half shifted four officers from post of TANGEDCO chairman. Then how would the Board prosper, he asked.
“Not all officers can be expected to work at someone’s whim. The government should learn to respect the feelings of the officials. You cannot place them on a par with partymen,” he said.

DMK will not seek more berths in Cabinet: Kalaignar

DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Sunday made it clear that his party would not seek more berths in the Union Cabinet.
Reacting to media speculations about his party’s stand vis-à-vis the proposed Cabinet expansion, Kalaignar said no one from the DMK would join the Ministry. Two of the DMK’s Cabinet Ministers in the UPA government, A. Raja and Dayanidhi Maran, resigned in the wake of the 2G spectrum scam and the party has so far not sought replacements for them. M.K. Alagiri is the only Cabinet Minister from the DMK and the party has four Ministers of State.
Kalaignar, who is also the chairman of the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) said the presence of Sri Lankan military in Tamil areas would be discussed at the TESO meeting to be held on October 3.
He said the Tamils held a demonstration in Kilinochi on September 27, demanding withdrawal of the Army from their areas. “But it fell on the deaf ears. We will discuss the issue in the TESO meeting,” he said.
As regards the State Electricity Minister’s allegation that the Centre had betrayed Tamil Nadu when it came to allotting more power, Mr Karunanidhi said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa used to blame the DMK government for the power shortage and now her Minister was blaming the Centre after he had given a detailed explanation on the efforts taken to augment power supply.
He said the AIADMK government had in a short span of one year and a half shifted four officers from post of TANGEDCO chairman.
“Not all officers can be expected to work at someone’s whim. The government should learn to respect the feelings of the officials. You cannot place them on a par with partymen,” he said.
“There have been several media reports speculating about the inclusion of new ministers from DMK state some of them as jokes and ignore others. To put it straight, if any changes take place in the Union Cabinet, no one from our party will be part of either as a Cabinet Minister or as Minister of State. This is my firm reply to the media.”
All that he said was, the CM who went to Delhi for the CRA meeting should have taken up the power crisis with the PM or the Power Minister and demanded additional power for the state from Central grid. If not the CM, the Minister concerned could have done that.
First C.P.Singh was the Chairman, then Swaran Singh, in one week Hansraj Verma and after few months Rajiv Ranjan who was also shifted in few months and K.Gnanadesikan is posted now.
Clarifying the latest Supreme Court order permitting Sasikala to inspect unmarked documents in the Disproportionate Assets case, Kalaignar said that after having delayed the trial for over 14 years, they filed this plea in the Special Court for further delaying. As the said documents were not part of the case the Special Court in Bangalore and then Karnataka High Court rejected the plea or their appeal. Supreme Court judges Justice P.Sadasivam and Ranjan Gagoi permitted her to inspect and unmarked documents but at the same time held that this order would not prejudice the on-going trial or the deposition of witnesses so far. Hence their effort to prolong the trial had not succeeded. But certain dailies in Tamil Nadu had published the report as if the SC gave a favourable order for Sasikala, Kalaignar said.
Clarifying that all governments assist farmers by offering subsidy on behalf of State government whenever Centre announced procurement price for paddy, Kalaignar said the DMK also increased the Centre’s support price when it was in power.
In 2006-07 the Centre’s price of Rs.580 per quintal for ordinary variety was increased to Rs.620; in 2007-08 from Rs.745 to Rs.795; in 2008-09 from Rs.900 to Rs.1,000; in 2009-10 from Rs.1,000 to Rs.1,050; for fine variety in 2006-07 from Rs.610 to Rs.650; in 2007-08 from Rs.775 to Rs.825; in 2008-09 from Rs.930 to Rs.1,050; in 2009-10 from Rs.1,030 to Rs.1,100.
“Hence, just like during the DMK rule Rs.50 and Rs.70 were additionally paid per quintal for ordinary and fine varieties of paddy, this regime has also announced. But when these announcements were made during DMK rule, I didn’t know to write in the statement, “the government headed by me is giving”, Kalaignar said sarcastically.

“Centre should respect feelings of states”

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President  Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi on Sep.28 urged the Centre to take steps to dispense with National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical college admissions in the country.
He said it was the DMK that abolished entrance examinations.
“But we are getting reports that the Centre is planning NEET to fill 15 per cent of seats in medical colleges in every State. This should be dispensed with because there is no provision for reservation in this arrangement. The Congress-led UPA government should intervene and put an end to NEET,” he said.
Asked about the arrest of a woman reporter in Coimbatore for distributing pamphlets on power cut, Kalaignar said they might defend the inspector’s action of arresting journalist. When Chief Minister Jayalalitha files defamation cases against opposition people speaking and writing about ADMK regime’s defects, it won’t be surprising if the inspector was given double promotion.
There are four units in Mettur thermal power station generating 840 MW @210 MW each. Generation was stopped in third unit on Sep.15 for maintenance work which was expected to be over on Sep.30 when on 24th fourth unit was damaged and generation stopped. Hence since then there was generation of only 420 MW instead of 840 MW.
Similarly, due to repair in one of the five units in Tuticorin only 840 MW of power was generated instead of 1050 MW. Instead of 2,470 MW from all thermal power stations like North Chennai and Ennore, now only 2010 MW was generated.
Referring to reports that the Emergency meeting of TN cabinet discussed in detail and decisions taken on petitions in the Supreme Court on getting Cauvery water for TN, the arguments to be advanced, steps to manage power cut in the state, encouraging solar power, buying electricity from open market, silver jubilee celebration of Assembly in October, Assembly session and controls for school and college buses. The Cabinet meeting was held 10.10 and 10.45 am for 35 minutes, Kalaignar said wondering how they discussed so many issues in just 35 minutes.
The reason for beginning Assembly, jubilee meeting at 10 a.m. on Oct.29, Monday was between 7.30 a.m. and 9.00  a.m. it was inauspicious Raghukalam and in Oct.30 at 11 a.m. because it was Emakandam between 9.00 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. That is ADMK!
Asked about Jayalalitha going to her Siruthavur bungalow for one week rest, Kalaignar said, ‘not for rest, because case will be filed if said so. An extensive ‘yaga’ is to be performed there to save from the Disproportionate Assets case. That is all.”
On the reports of Jayalalitha unveiling the new TNPSC office in Parrys Corner in person, Kalaignar said, many buildings planned, funds allocated and construction completed remain uninaugurated due to some reason. Because one person is not willing to use the inaugurated new Secretariat complex, that building constructed at the cost of people’s tax money to the tune of Rs.1,000 crore remains unused by anybody. People of TN who see that daily are passing comments about her vengeance. Even in a weekly they have written about ministers and senior officials are put to difficulty due to paucity of space, all affected due to her obstinacy but afraid of speaking about it.
Like the Secretariat, the new Police Commissioner’s office in Chennai, new building for Madras Medical College constructed at the site of previous Central jail are still not opened even after completion of construction. Although Jayalalitha had unveiled the new TNPSC office in person, all dailies had carefully avoided publishing the fact that the building was planned, funded and constructed during DMK rule even while explaining about the new building to journalists. TNPSC Chairman ‘Nataraja Iyer’ avoided telling who was behind shaping of the building. Reminded of the song, even if thousand hands cover up, the sun is not eclipsed”, Kalaignar said.
In the statement of Chennai Corporation Mayor that he felt pained and ashamed for adopting the resolution permitting the demolition of Anna arch as he was informed the CM would inaugurate the overbridge without knowing that it was planned during DMK rule and about the conspiracy, Kalaignar said somehow they have conceded that the resolution was adopted by them. Moreover, the Mayor has admitted they would do anything if the CM was to inaugurate. Only construction of overbridge was planned during DMK rule and not demolition of Anna arch and there was no conspiracy in it, he added.
On the statement of TNERC member Venugopal that TN will get 3,000 MW of power in next six months from North Chennai, Vallur and Mettur thermal power stations, Kalaignar said the three projects were started during DMK rule. The works ion 600 MW Mettur project was started on 25.6.2008 and generation should have started 25.6.2011. The foundation for 600 MW North Chennai unit project was laid on 18.2.2008 and its generation should have started on 17.2.2011 for the 600 MW unit 2 steps were taken to start on 16.9.2012 and if works were carried out without slackness during the last 15 months generation would have started by now. Just because these projects were started during DMK rule, these rulers did not evince interest in them, Kalaignar charged.
On reports that due to the ‘ego’ of ADMK regime that despite the lapse of four months of the Centre announcing setting up of Petro Chemical industry investment region in Tamil Nadu, it was getting delayed, Kalaignar said the region was proposed to be set up over 256 sq. km. areas including Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkali and Tharangampadi and a refinery project with a capacity of 1.5 crore ton at an investment of Rs.50,000 crore and another investment of Rs.50,000 crore to start industries. The Union Cabinet committee for Economic affairs gave approval on July 3. In the first phase the Centre has to enter into an MoU with TN industries and Chemicals department, which is the preliminary action for starting the project. But even four months after announcement no action has been taken, to the state government said to be delaying because the concerned department at the Centre was under DMK  Minister M.K.Alagiri. If this region is set up about 8 lakh persons will get employment opportunities. But due to political reasons, the TN government is not interested in it.
Similarly the Centre had planned to set up very large ports in TN, Odisha and West Bengal and the Union Minister of Shipping had asked for details from the states. But it is said even after four months there was no response from TN despite reminders. Meanwhile, the Centre has given approval for setting up a huge port at Ongole in AP and preliminary works have also started. Even in the matter TN is said to be asleep, Kalaignar regretted.

Discomforting Decision

In keeping with the spirit enunciated by its founder-leader Arignar Anna of ‘extending hand for relations and raising voice for rights’, DMK high-level Executive Committee meeting presided over by Kalaignar adopted two important resolutions on matters of national importance, urging the Central government 1.to reject in toto the recommendations of Kelkar Committee on measures for expediting economic reforms and 2. To reconsider the decision to permit Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector.
As far as Kelkar Committee recommendations are concerned, within hours of the submission of the report, the Finance Ministry declared that some of the recommendations in the report are contrary to the government’s declared objective of “sustained and inclusive growth”.
“The government is of the view that in a developing country where a significant proportion of the population is poor, a certain level of subsidies is necessary and unavoidable, and measures must be taken to protect the poor and vulnerable sections of the society,” said Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs.
The government has also sent indications that it is not likely to relent on the food subsidy front. “It has reiterated its intention to implement the promise of food security for all,” Mayaram said.
The Food Ministry will oppose the Kelkar Committee’s report, which has recommended heavy cuts in subsidies, Ministry sources revealed.
The Kelkar report has recommended that subsidies should be eliminated to stem the dwindling finances. According to the report, half of subsidy on diesel should be eliminated during the current financial year, and the rest in the next fiscal. As for kerosene, the report recommended a cut of 33 per cent in the ongoing subsidy.
The report also argued that the planned food guarantee scheme would enlarge the fiscal deficit problem. It warned that huge subsidies would push the fiscal deficit to an unmanageable 6.1 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012-13.
But sources said that the food ministry would convey its opposition to the recommendations to the Finance Ministry.
The sources said that Congress leadership was eager to rollout the Food Guarantee Scheme as soon as possible as it considered the scheme vital to enhance its image. The sources added that the Food Ministry was of the view that harsh fiscal measures couldn’t be taken on issues which concern the poor.
It may be noted here that the food ministry has already compelled the government to abandon a planned move to increase the price of PDS sugar for BPL (below poverty line) families from Rs 13.50 to Rs 24.
Besides on subsidies, the recommendations of the Kelkar Committee on direct and indirect taxes are rewarding the rich with tax cuts while putting the burden on the middle classes and the common people by cutting their savings and the returns earned from them. Among the sops to the rich, corporate tax rate is to be reduced to 30 per cent for domestic companies and the tax on dividends withdrawn. The richest sections will need pay only a 30 per cent income tax.
With the tariff on imports to be brought down to a maximum of 10 per cent in a short span of time, apart from attacking domestic production, customs revenues would be adversely affected. Added to this there would be the revenue loss from the reduced direct taxes. Overall, the recommendations would further intensify the decline in the tax-GDP ratio.
The Kelkar Committee’s recommendations are iniquitous as it seeks to equate different types of tax exemptions. Exemptions on small savings and house construction loans that encourage savings and housing investment by the middle classes is equated with the tax concessions and exemptions that benefit the rich (such as export earnings). Exemptions should be reduced or done away with only in the case of profit earners who are not being taxed even though they derive much benefits from facilities provided by the State at low or no cost. At a time when interest rates are falling, doing away with tax benefits aimed at encouraging savings will adversely affect the household savings rate and make savings difficult for the middle class.
The recommendation of an agricultural income tax to deal with the revenue loss that would accompany the other measures is to evade the problem. First of all levying of an agricultural income tax is a state subject and cannot be a means to neutralize Central revenue loss.
Hence, the DMK has demanded the Centre to reject the recommendations of Kelkar committee in toto.
Notwithstanding the widespread opposition to FDI in multi-brand retail trade, the government has gone ahead with the notification. The rules announced by the government for FDI in multi-brand will serve the interests of MNCs like Wal-Mart, TESCO and Carrefour. The investment floor of 100 million dollars (Rs 550 crore) is insignificant for the giant retailers like Wal-Mart which are multi-billion companies.
The restriction that foreign retail outlets should be in cities with over 10 lakh population is also irrelevant because these are precisely the urban centres which the MNCs want to access as they are the most lucrative segment of the market. “Furthermore, the rules provide that in states/union territories which do not have cities having a population of more than 10 lakh, foreign retail outlets may be set up in cities of their choice.” Thus foreign supermarkets can be set up in all parts of the country and in a wider range of urban centres.
The condition for making at least 50 per cent of the investment in ‘backend’ infrastructure is being cited to argue that this would lead to more cold chains and other logistics, benefiting the farmers. International experience has, however, shown that procurement by MNC retailers do not benefit the small farmers. Over time, they receive depressed prices and find it difficult to meet the arbitrary quality standards.
Domestic interests will be harmed by the dilution of the conditions set for FDI in single-brand retail. Earlier, the rule was that for FDI above 51 per cent in single brand retail, there was a mandatory sourcing of at least 30 per cent of the value of products sold from Indian “small industries/village and cottage industries.” Now this has been diluted. It is stated that instead of mandatory sourcing it is “preferably” from small and medium enterprises etc. Further, the definition of small industries has also been done away with.
Moreover, in India, next to agricultural and handloom sectors, retail sector offers traditionally the third largest employment.
The unorganised retail trade in India represents the traditional, community-centric, low-cost … employment intense retailing that includes, but is not limited to, provision shops, owner-run-general stores, paan-beedi shops, convenience stores, and hand-cart and pavement vending. In this model a whole family works in one shop and a whole community is engaged in the trade in a defined area. Most advocates of corporate … and retail firms … ignore this critical contribution of the existing system to the Indian economy and society (emphasis added). This “multi-layer retailing is the most decentralised economic activity in India after agriculture. Second, it constitutes almost 98 percent of the total trade with an estimated 12 million outlets. In contrast, organised trade accounts for just 2 percent. Third, it is the largest employment provider after agriculture, employing an estimated 40 million people”. In contrast, the world’s largest retail chain, Wal-Mart, employs just about five lakhs. Fourth, being “self-employed … with their families”, this activity comprises “120 million people”.
It is “retailing that continuously generates … huge community-based entrepreneurship”. And then “it contributes over 14 percent of India’s GDP, while all the companies in the BSE 500 Index, put together is some 4 percent”. Also that the “unorganised retail segment has been growing at an average rate of over 8 percent a year for the last eight years (1999-00 to 2006-07). … second only to construction …” Let us consider seriously that “if this social capital link to retail trade is unsettled, the entire distant and remote supply chain will suffer over a period, disturbing the social equilibrium and the organic social links that have evolved over … centuries”.
Walmart entered in Austin neighbourhood of Chicago in 2006. And by 2008, some 82 of the 306 small shops had closed down. Further, the Economic Development Quarterly study found the closure rate around Walmart location at 35-60 per cent. Such studies in the U.S. reject the assertion that FDI in retail does not hurt small shops. On job creation, a January 2010 report titled ‘Walmart’s Economic Footprint’, prepared for the New York City Public Advocate, says that “Walmart kills three local jobs for every two it creates”. Jayati Ghosh, an eminent Indian economist cited by Karan Thapar, asserts that “one Walmart store in India will displace 1400 small retail stores costing 5000 jobs”. This, too, is dismissed by the government as meaningless.
As for Walmart offering better prices, please recognise it does not buy or pay for goods over the counter. It purchases the nation’s next harvest in futures market and fixes farm prices. It also imports cheap goods and destroys local production like it has done in the U.S. And an outstanding example of this is provided by President George W. Bush, who gratuitously observed “that rice prices had gone up because newly prosperous Indians had begun eating more”. In truth, as detailed by USA Today (April 23, 2008) and CNN (April 24, 2008) the “California Rice Commission and USA Rice Federation” denied there was a “shortage of rice”, explaining that it was because ‘Sams Club’ (Walmart’s wholesale division) was holding ‘huge stocks’, and ‘pushing up the prices’.
Two government reports — of the Planning Commission Working Group on Agriculture for the XI Plan (2007-2012), and the 19th report of the Standing Committee of Parliament on Food (2006-2007), to Parliament — themselves nail the lie that Walmart will link farm-gate to its gate and make Indian farmers rich.
There is then that assumption that this variety of capital inflow is the answer to our present trade and current account deficits. First, this is neither true nor tenable. The trade account deficit of about US$150 billion and the current account deficit exceeding 3 per cent of GDP is very alarming and may lead to a balance of payments crisis of much graver nature than the 1990 position. It is this continuous pressure on the “trade account and the sudden withdrawal of funds by FIIs from the stock market that has weakened the Indian Rupee”, (Rs. 16 in 1991 to as low as Rs.50 per U.S. dollar), resulting in a “devaluation of more than 300 per cent”, thus becoming one of the major causes of imported inflation in the country during the past two decades.
When it comes to FDI in retail, the beneficial impact on the common man is altogether less obvious than in the case of lowering the diesel subsidy. What FDI in this sector may be expected to do is to take the shopping experience in India to the next level. Surely, cavernous supermarkets make it easier to shop for those with deeper pockets. Precisely because the supplier caters to this cohort the quality of the groceries may be expected to rise. In fact, we have already seen this happening, even without FDI, with organised retail spreading in India. But those on a daily wage and no ready cash are unlikely to patronise these suburban behemoths. They may be expected to prop up the provision store with its infinite capacity for apportioning their stuff to suit the customer’s purse and willingness to extend credit. So the Opposition may well be crying wolf over the imminent disappearance of the corner store.
But the government’s claim of a ‘win-win’ with higher prices for farmers and lower prices for customers with the advent of FDI may be somewhat exaggerated. For precisely because the large retailer must cut through the supply chain to deliver this outcome, there would be some displacement in the middle. The government counters this reasoning by pointing to investment at the backend, in cold storage and such. This is possible of course, but we would want to wait and see the full combined effect once all effects have worked their way through the economy. Some part of the corner-store complex will survive purely because there are too many poor people in this country yet, generating a substantial demand for low quality food with lower mark-ups.
It is when it comes to inflation though that the present round of announcements by the government has little or nothing to offer. The suggestion, first made when the proposal was mooted some months ago, that FDI in retail would dampen inflation is difficult to fathom. The source of the current inflation is a veritable excess demand for vegetables and a manufactured excess demand for the principal foodgrains, in the absence of a universal PDS all over the country.
It would be appropriate to conclude by asking whether the government makes too much of foreign investment, desirable as it is. With respect to its heroic recent announcement, there is the issue of the suppliers’ response. Walmart’s Asia President Scott Price is reported to have already stated “we are not in any rush” to enter India. But there is a query more general than the likely response of foreign investors to the overtures being made presently. In the two decades since 1991, India has not attracted much FDI, giving us an idea of what may be expected in a future with or without FDI in retail. Some perspective is to be had from looking at the Chinese experience. For an idea of the relative roles of FDI and domestic investment in generating growth in that country, note that FDI as a share on the domestic product had peaked in 1993. It was only 6 per cent even then, and has declined progressively since to a figure less than half of it. This suggests that China’s double-digit growth cannot be explained by alluding to the FDI it attracts. Is our own government overrating the power of foreign investment to transform India’s economy?
That’s why the DMK has discomfort in wholeheartedly welcoming the decision. v

I’ll wear Today itself and For Ever!

Dear brothers and sisters,
In a democratic country, it is a permitted method for opposition parties to peacefully and legally conduct agitations pointing out anti-people measures and shortcomings of the ruling party. When DMK was the ruling party, there were no days without release of Jayalalitha’s statements criticizing it. “Huge demonstration on behalf of North Chennai district ADMK condemning minority DMK government which did not bring Tondiarpet power sub station in North Chennai district to function” – this is statement released by Jayalalitha on 29.4.2010. Whether persons came or not for that stir, whether it was held or not, but there were no days without the arrival of Jayalalitha’s agitating ‘war’ tune.
Even for very ordinary problems demonstrations, picketing etc., were held then. Now throughout the state there is no electricity for over 16 hours a day. On unfolding any daily there are reports like stir in Tirupur condemning power cut, bandh – Rs.1,000 crore industries affected – stir in Coimbatore  - Rs.800 crore industries affected.

If law and order is taken, in these two days alone, six members of a family near Rameswaram burnt to death – film producer PPG Kumaran murdered near Sriperumpudur, ADMK Union Secretary arrested and accused in the case – Notorious rowdie Francis stabbed to death in Kasimedu – Madras university guard Babu beaten to death – liquor seller Gangadharan stabbed to death in Madurantakam – Husband, wife and mother-in-law murdered near Vellakoil – Husband beaten to death with shovel in Devakottai – ex-policeman Dharman murdered in Thanjavur – This is the list of murders yesterday and today.
Ministers changed for the eighth time – perhaps the number of former Ministers will be more than the present ministers in this regime! The situation is the Speaker himself has resigned. Those who were fraternal parties during elections have become opposition parties now. The tendency of not regarding anybody, the condition of officials is delicate. Only ‘yes’ men can continue in posts. Police department is functioning as servile department. Even the Chennai city Police Commissioner cannot continue for more than one and a half year.
There ask what is press freedom. The count of journals facing defamation cases is lost. Due to which no daily or periodical can boldly write criticizing this regime and explaining people’s problems. If written in opposition to government advertisements will not be available. This atrocity of foisting false cases against active functionaries in main opposition party and imprisoning against legal provisions. Goondas Act against much more active among them. Wihtout opening and utilizing all buildings constructed during the previous rule with vengeance just like sending scheme of the previous rule to garbage yards. Plaques removed only because of my name find place. Every day judges passing strictures against this regime in courts. While there is a regime in Karnataka conducting three meetings of all party leaders in one month on Cauvery issue, and functioning, in Tamil Nadu no party leaders’ meetings was convened. As neighbouring states are also treated like opposition parties, the cordial relations between the two states has deteriorated and ‘Bandh’ announced in Karnataka on Oct.6. Due to which, Tamils who have gone to that State to eke out livelihood are freezed in fear in their fate. Buses cannot ply between the two states.
Four chairmen for TNEB in one and half years. Because suitable decisions were not taken at due time, stir continues for one and half years in Kudankulam. Atrocity of killing two fishermen in firing. The tragedy of six lives lost in firing in Paramakudi. Due to scarcity and starvation, reports of rampant robberies, thefts, chain snatching etc., Indiscriminate police lathicharge. Even in problems to be resolved through talks, suppression by sending police forces.
No need to inquire about price rise. Even while getting revenue of over Rs.20,000 crore through TASMAC (liquor shops), increase  in milk prices, bus fare hike, steep power tariff hike – poor and downtrodden and middle class people are undergoing sufferings.
No words for the condition of government employees. Even after several days of Centre announcing DA hike, the government of TN keeps mum. The appointment of Anganwadi and nutritious meal workers is blocked. The outrage of District collectors, who acted fairly without heading to recommendations, transferred within three months. The shame of High Court cancelling selection of 29,000 nutritious meal workers. The very next day, the HC cancelled the appointment of 3,000 teachers. Reports in dailies to sale of drinking water, Metro Water Board on its own announces the price of a lorry of drinking water.
Brethren and sisters, thus we can go on listing. Pointing out all these atrocities and condemning the ruling party, the DMK Executive Committee decided to peacefully conduct a Human Chain parade wearing black dress and properly sought permission in writing from the police, even for which no permission is given in this regime. As it was told that the route was not correct, three alternative routes were given and permission sought for one, even for that if these rulers do not give permission, what does it mean?
These rulers have compelled us to conduct on three days, the Human Chain demonstration originally planned for few hours on one day, for the problems of the people. It is only the ruling party and not us to take us to the level of wearing black dress and going door to door and telling the failures of this regime. (from standing on the sides of roads wearing black dress for few hours.)
An order of the police refusing permission to human chain protest was shown to me. In the beginning of the order it is written as, Agitation’ by the DMK condemning severe power cut prevailing under AIADMK regime and vindictive actions against DMK cadre.” Hence it is very clear from the order of the police that they concede prevailing power cut and vengeance against DMK cadre. So Tamil Nadu today looks like a dark continent to the extent of self confession.
It is only to inform people of all these miseries that the DMK cadre were asked to wear black dress, print the text published in ‘Murasoli’ as pamphlets, go door to door and distribute among ordinary, poor, downtrodden and middle class people in Chennai. On 5th and on all areas in cities, towns, unions, town panchayats and villages in other districts on 6th and7th. I humbly request to carry out this work in a very peaceful manner without giving room for any problems.
We sought permission to conduct parade and demonstration wearing black dress peacefully standing in same place in a human chain by road side. Even today, doctors have conducted human chain demonstration opposing Entrance Test of the Centre, and those photographs have been published in dailies. Hence it is not a non permissible method of agitation. Similarly wearing black dress is also not news when DMK was the ruling party those belonging to the ADMK had come to the Assembly itself with black dress. Possibly Chief Minister Jayalalitha has not given permission, sympathizing with my health condition to lead this demonstration in Chennai at this advanced age? If so, they would have atleast given permission in districts? Why it was not given?
As far as I am concerned, I thought of wearing black dress only for one day on 5th opposing miseries of these rulers. I want to remind you of a past incident. A resolution was adopted at Tiruchi conference that the Dravidar Kazhagam required a voluntary force in the name of Dravidar Liberation Force. After Periyar returned to Erode, he thought further about it, and released an announcement  about Black Shirt Force in ‘Kudiyarasu’ in its issue dated 29th September 1945. Do you know who was the first volunteer to register in Black Shirt force desirously formed by Periyar at Erode then? This same M.Karunanidhi. I announced that the same M.Karunanidhi will lead tomorrow’s Human Chain demonstration in Chennai. Yes, I was to participate in the human chain wearing black shirts. For which did not give permission. It’s alright, From today itself I will wear black shirt opposing the miseries of this regime, I’ll wear today itself; And wear for ever!
Affectionately,
M.K.

DMK Youth Wing: Building From Below And Imparting Ideological Orientation

Historically, all social and political movements/ parties all over the world were invariably founded by experienced and enlightened individual or a group of such elderly people. But the very fact that when Arignar Anna founded the DMK in 1949, he was only 40 but reverentially called ‘Anna’ (elder brother) by his lieutenants and mass of the cadre attest to the truth that they were all younger to him. Most of them like Kalaignar were in their twenties. When Kalaignar presided over the first Tirunelveli district DMK conference in 1950, and delivered a brilliant speech on the principles and effective functioning of the organization, he was only 26.
This is the unique and distinguishing feature of the Party and indeed its source of strength, which catapulted it to power in the State in 18 years since founding – an achievement of sorts in those days, when parties in power and in-wait for it in the country as a whole were several decades old. The synergy produced by a youthful organization – youthful from the top to the bottom, in rank and file – made political analysts and commentators to look up and analyse the phenomenal growth of the DMK and write new chapters on political and social dynamism.
There is great potential in young people. It is like dynamite. Dynamite can do great good when used in the right way. It can pave the way for new buildings, schools, lakes, highways and numerous other projects which will benefit mankind. In wrong hands, though, it can be used to take life, often in hundreds. Young people have the same potential for good or bad.
Anna, the sagacious social scientist, had an exceptional understanding on the power and potential of the youth. As a social engineer, he unleashed this potential through productive and constructive channels, even when as a social philosopher he taught his cadre the three axioms – Duty, Dignity and Discipline. Unlike any other political or social organization, the DMK was built – vertically and horizontally – as a family. It was more a family bond than a fraternal bond that united the Party cadre.
 The youth are idealistic. There are worlds to conquer, battles to win, deeds to be done. They have not yet learned what can’t be done. They do not get jaded by life’s heartbreaks and defeats. And because they don’t know what can’t be done, they often achieve great things. They have boundless energy. They never tire in whatever work they passionately believe in. They approach many things with a clear slate. They don’t have many of the old prejudices, that the older adults have. This is why there is often less of a problem with communal and casteist bigotry among the young than the old.
The DMK leadership correctly estimated the strength of the youth in society and successfully harnessed their idealism and boundless energy for the principles and programmes of the movement, which were mostly youth-oriented.
Whether it was the demand for Dravidanadu and later giving it up even while asserting that the reasons for secession still remained, or the agitations against Hindi imposition or the silent revolution for social reform through persuasive activities like self-respect and inter-caste marriages – they were more targeted towards younger generations in the interests of their future than the aged, who had got accustomed to living with the prevailing oppressive traditions and suffocating realities of life in absolute despondency. Of course, the Party did not lag behind in voicing the grievances of the people and launching struggles on issues like price rise and on sectional problems of workers, handloom weavers et al, as it was growing into a mass movement.
The appeal of the DMK for the youth did not abate but expanded and widened as it emerged during the anti-Hindi agitation in 1965 by the student community, the cream of the youth. It was because of such massive movements led by the Party that the menacing advance of Hindi as the sole official language was halted.

After assuming power in the State in 1967, the DMK government launched several schemes for the youth of both genders. Even as a ruling party, the DMK gave a call for organizing a ‘Day of Uprise’ urging the Centre to start Salem Steel Plant – both as a matter of staking the State’s right and for creating employment opportunities for youngsters.
The previous government of Kalaignar was pursuing a vigorous programme of industrialization taking Tamil Nadu as the most favoured destination for both domestic and foreign direct investments, thus creating tens of thousands of direct and indirect employment. In order to provide more avenues for self-employment, the DMK government was taking special interest in popularizing Self Help Groups of both young women and men and lakhs in both gender make a decent living. In order to provide at least minimum relief to the educated unemployed, the government was providing monthly financial assistance to these young men and women. One of the earliest measures taken by the government was scrapping of the freeze on recruitment to government service and departments imposed by the previous ADMK government and filling up all vacancies. Accordingly 2,28,149 youth were provided employment in five years as against the DMK poll promise to fill up three lakh vacancies in government jobs. To compensate the loss of five years for employment avenues, the minimum age in government employment for different sections of unemployed youth, was also raised by five years.
Although the Party and its governments were youthful as ever and fully addressing the concerns of the younger generations, the need for the self-initiatives of the next generations of the cadre, for strengthening the movement was felt, giving birth to the DMK Youth Wing in 1980 rightly under the stewardship of Thalapathi M.K.Stalin, who had pioneered a Youth DMK unit in his residential area Gopalapuram and involved it in all the functions and programmes of the Party. It must be underlined that the Youth Wing was inaugurated and started spreading its wings all over the State under terribly hostile and oppressive regimes. The cadres of the wing were in the forefront in all the actions and agitations of the Party against a fascist regime. Grown-up and matured under such inimical circumstances, the Youth wing cadres naturally were selfless, steeled in courage and determination.
It is also noteworthy that the Dravidian movement in general and the DMK, the movement of the youth, by the youth and for the youth, in particular was mainly instrumental for guarding the youth of Tamil Nadu, from going astray into fissiparous, communal, chauvinist and extremist tendencies and maintain the traditions of tolerance, amity and peace loving, despite periodical provocations.
It is this strength of the wing that Kalaignar wants to boost further and prepare it more intellectually and ideologically organized so as to lead the entire youth community on a noble and idealistic path, with the same spirit and zeal of those who followed Arignar Anna in 1949.
With this objective in mind and in order to infuse fresh blood into the Youth Wing, Thalapathi M.K.Stalin launched a campaign for identifying  and recruiting new talents from the grass root levels and rejuvenate the Youth Wing.
In the first phase, interviews were conducted by Thalapathi M.K.Stalin assisted by Youth Wing Deputy Secretaries M.Subramanian, E.Sugavanam MP, SP T Sampath, Paranamathupatti Rajendran and Hasan Mohammed Jinnah, in all districts, among the aspirants for appointment of functionaries at Unions, town panchayat wards and area levels. Age limits upto 30 for the three levels and 40 years for district and city levels were fixed. In all those interviews in districts which were conducted, the respective party district secretaries were also present. At the end of the process, Thiru Stalin said over one lakh youngsters participated in these. Then lists of functionaries, for these positions were finalized with the approval of party leadership and announced.
In the second phase, these newly recruited youth wing functionaries were given ideological orientation through well organized Training camps conducted in all districts.
Eminent scholars and experienced DMK leaders including Dr. M.Nannan, Prof. Abdul Kadher, Prof. Sabapathi Mohan, Prof. A.Ramasamy, Dr. K.Ponmudy, Thiru Durai Murugan, N.Selvendran and N.Siva MP imparted training on ‘History of the Dravidian movement’. ‘Social Justice’ and ‘Language agitation’. Those who attended the camps were much benefited.
In the third phase, interviews for ‘appointing organizers and deputy organizers for district and city units were conducted at Anbagam, the Youth Wing headquarters in Chennai.
The DMK’s Youth Wing will hold a State-level conference soon after obtaining permission from the party high command, said Thalapathi M.K. Stalin, secretary of the youth wing on Sep.19 at the end of the third phase.

Thiru Stalin, who interviewed youths for appointment as organisers and deputy organisers, said one lakh youngsters attended the interviews and 4,764 persons were appointed for union, towns, area and town panchayat units.
For union, town, area and constituency units one organizer and four deputy organizers each and for town panchayats one organizer and two deputy organizers were appointed.
The interviews for appointing organisers and deputy organizers for district and city units and for Puducherry, Andhra state units were held on 9, 10, 11, 17, 18 September in which about 2,000 participated among whom 705 were graduates, 207 were lawyers, 112 engineers, 182 diploma holders and the rest school educated.
One organizer and four deputy organizers will be appointed for each the above mentioned unit. A meeting of all functionaries of the Youth wing numbering over 5,000 will be hold soon in Chennai in the presence of Kalaignar and Prof. Anbazhagan, Thiru Stalin said.

Resolutions adopted at the DMK Executive Committee meeting

The life and livelihood of people who voted have become question mark due to unprecedented power cut, price rise and breakdown of law and order in Tamil Nadu. Resolution was adopted at the DMK Executive Committee meeting presided over by President Kalaignar held at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai on Oct.1, for conducting a huge human chain agitation wearing black clothes in Chennai and all district headquarters condemning nonfunctional Jayalalitha regime, on October 5.
The meeting presided over by Party President Kalaignar was attended by General Secretary Prof. K.Anbazhagan, Treasurer Thalapathi M.K.Stalin, Party Headquarters Principal Secretary Thiru Arcot N.Veeraswami, Deputy General Secretaries Thiru Durai Murugan, Tmt. S.P.Sarguna Pandian, Thiru V.P.Duraisamy and Executive Committee members and special invitees.
The resolutions adopted in the meeting are as follows:
Resolution 1
The Centre appointed a three member committee headed by former Union Finance Secretry and Chairman of the 12th Finance Commission Thiru Vijay L.Kelkar to submit a report to the Union government after a detailed study for expediting economic reforms. The committee has submitted its report on Sep.3. The most shocking of the recommendation was the one which calls for cancelling all subsidies which the government is providing in various forms to the poor people of India. The purpose of providing subsidies was to protect atleast to some extent the poor and downtrodden people in India, their purchasing power and consumption. But in a manner of damaging the very intention, the Kelkar committee has recommended the total cancellation of all subsidies so far provided for all essential commodities including rise, wheat, sugar and kerosene distributed through Public Distribution System, fuels such as cooking gas and diesel and fertilizer – including urea. Moreover, the recommendations of the Kelkar committee includes selling of surplus lands of public sector units including Railways to private sector disinvestment of PSU shares and bringing all sorts of services under taxation net.
There are reports that the Centre was considering implementation of all recommendations of the committee. Taking into account that implementation of the Kelkar committee recommendations as it is without any change, the poor and downtrodden people will be subjected to more and more sufferings, this Executive Committee urges the Centre to totally reject the recommendation of Kelkar Committee.
Resolution 2
The Cauvery River Water Authority was set up with the cooperation of the then Prime Minister A.B.Vajpayee when Kalaignar was in power. The states concerned were duty bound to take action accepting the decisions announced by the Prime Minister as the chairman of the Authority. Besides severely condemning Karnataka for refusing to accept even after the Prime Minister directing to release 9,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu at the meeting of the CRA chaired by the PM on 19.9.2012 at New Delhi to overcome the present deficit of irrigation water in Cauvery delta areas of TN, as Tamil Nadu government also adopted an approach creating clash with Karnataka, without taking steps to get additional quantum of water by accepting the decision of the CRA and receiving 9,000 cubic feet, as already pointed out by Kalaignar, it has paved way for bitterness to develop between the people of both states. However, this Executive Committee urges the Centre to come forward to do the needful to implement the order of the Supreme Court itself to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu and also urges Karnataka to come forward to release water to TN as per the order of the Tribunal.
On this issue of Tamil Nadu to get water from Karnataka, when Karnataka government, which is responsible to give water, has convened meetings of all party leaders thrice and took decisions, the Tamil Nadu government which has to get water, taking unilateral decisions without consulting anybody and least bothered about it is regrettable, the Executive Committee noted.
Resolution – 3
The Eelam Tamils Rights Protection Conference held in Chennai on 12.8.2012 under the chairmanship of Kalaignar was successful drawing the attention of countries in the world. This executive committee thanks Kalaignar who was the motivator for the success.
It was planned to present to the UN Secretary General and the UNHRC in Geneva the petitions containing the resolutions adopted at the conference and the demands of Kalaignar on political rights and rights to means of livelihood in consultation with TESO members. DMK General Secretary Prof. K.Anbazhagan, D.K.President K.Veeramani, VCK President Thol Thirumavalavan, Prof. Suba Veerapandian and Tmt. Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan.
This Executive Committee resolved to depute DMK Treasurer Thalapathi M.K.Stalin and DMK Parliamentary Party leader T.R.Baalu, on behalf of Kalaignar to the UNO and UNHRC.
Resolution – 4
The following resolution was adopted at the TESO conference on 12.8.2012.
“India has the Duty, Right and Responsibility to undertake measures for ensuring peace and equality in the neighbouring Sri Lanka.
Indian Government has been protecting a number of Nationalities, Religions and Languages, as required by its democratic traditions. But contrary to this Indian situation, in the neighbouring Sri Lanka, there is no protection for the Tamil Nationality,  Religion and Language. Therefore this Conference points out to the Indian Government that a question has naturally arisen in the hearts of Tamils as to why the Indian Government has been silent on the undemocratic developments in Sri Lanka.
The Indian Government should, therefore, take all necessary steps to ensure a total change of environment in Sri Lanka and a life of equality and peace to the Sri Lankan Tamils, by redeeming their political, economic and cultural rights.
This Conference urges the Government of India to bring forth a Resolution in the U.N.O., for bestowing full right to the Tamils in Sri Lanka to decide the political solution themselves, which they have been demanding” and already presented to the Prime Minister in person. This Executive Committee urges Government of India to move a suitable resolution in the UN and help Tamil race in consideration that Tamil race is a nationality in Sri Lanka and that nationality has the right to determine its future.
Resolution – 5
The Centre has issued notification permitting FDI in retail sector. Although the right to choose implementation of this decision has been left to the states, opposition to it has been voiced from several corners of India. Besides that crores of retail traders in India will be severely affected if FDI is allowed in retail sector, the poor and middle class people with low purchasing power will be subjected to various difficulties in buying required provisions, permitting FDI in the name of economic reforms will harm developing countries like India. This Executive Committee urges the Centre to recommend the decision to permit FDI in retail sector as when some states decide to permit FDI in retail sector and some others don’t, the rise and fall of price levels will differ for each state and cause huge impact on overall Indian economy.
Resolution 6
As the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court has held that it is not necessary to allot natural resources other than spectrum only by auction in the Presidential reference, the issues connected with spectrum allocation continue. Hence this Executive Committee urges the Centre to immediately file again the review petition withdrawn after filing, against the judgement of the 2-member Bench cancelling licences.
Resolution 7
After the ADMK regime led by Jayalalitha was formed last year in TN, people of the state continue to be subjected to various distresses.
During Kalaignar’s rule many power projects were started and being executed when the change of regime happened. As a result of not expediting and completing the projects started during DMK rule, by the ADMK which gave the false election promise of solving power shortage within four months of coming to power, even after about one and a half years, there is power cut for 15 hours a day with people yearning when power will come. The daily routine of people are greatly affected due to this.
Besides this, small and micro industrial units could not work causing lakhs of people losing jobs and production to the tune of several crores affected. Due to power cut for several hours in districts depending on weaving industry, the pitiable situation of opening gruel centres has been created by Jaya regime.
When Cauvery delta farmers are subjected to colossal distress due to the indifference of Jaya regime in Cauvery water issue, power supply has been reduced from 12 hours to three hours causing inability to improve agriculture using ground water. Kuruvai has totally failed and samba crop is also uncertain.
On the issue of Kudankulam nuclear power project, took two different and contradictory stands, when the people of the area demanded to meet Jayalalitha and talk to her without respecting people. Instead of meeting them and listening to their grievance, she sent a huge contingent of police force and resorted to lathicharge and firing in which two were killed. Without making any difference between elders and children, cases under draconian sections including sedition were filed against all sections and made to loiter.
Each day law and order situation is deteriorating. Not a day passes without murders, there isn’t any place without thefts and no streets without wayside robberies. Women venturing out are unsure of their ‘thali chains’ in their necks. Police lathi charge, teargas and firing have become the order of this regime. Constitutional rule has become Police Raj in Tamil Nadu. This regime tends to suppress by anarchic methods by sending police force, many problems that have to be solved through peaceful talks.
No need to speak about price rise! Hikes in milk prices, bus fare, electricity tariff and attempts to increase further, price rise of all essential articles including rice, as a result of this all-round price rise, the means of livelihood are suppressed.
The condition of government employees is pitiable! Officials are transferred frequently! Corruption and bribes in new appointments! For instance the new jobs of Anganwadi and nutritious meal workers, TNEB engineers and teachers are sold for price. Officials who want transfers have to be ready to pay tariff. During DMK rule, whenever Centre hikes DA, it was hiked for State government employees. But now even after several days of Centre announcing the hike, the ADMK government is not bothered about it. The unions of government employees are afraid of demanding it. Officials are looking at calendars for their continuance in the place. For instance in TNEB four officers were transferred in one year. Similarly change of ministers has become daily news. Why, even the Speaker had to resign.
Thus, Tamil Nadu now looks like a dark continent with fare hikes, price rise, power shortage, unemployment, distress of farmers, drinking water scarcity, indifference without fulfilling electoral promises, deteriorating law and order etc. The ADMK regime led by Jayalalitha, which damn care for the people files defamation cases and threats opposition leaders and dailies and weeklies which amidst fear, point out these injustices, chaos and anti-people trend.
The ADMK rulers have made it a practice of foisting false cases against opposition cadre and arrest them under draconian laws including Goondas Act and releasing daily false information and defamatory news about previous rulers in order to divert attention from their administrative inefficiency and incapacity.
Legislative democracy has been sent to grave yard.
Press freedom has been pushed into depths.
The voice of opposition to throated.
The life of people who voted has become a question mark.
Industrial development, agriculture, employment opportunities, educational progress, work in basic infrastructure have all been crippled.
This Executive Committee resolves to form black clothed human chain and demonstrate between 2 and 6 pm on October 5, Friday from District Collector’s office to Light House via Beach Road in Chennai and in all district headquarters in Tamil Nadu.

DMK Youth Wing: Building From Below And Imparting Ideological Orientation

The youth are idealistic. There are worlds to conquer, battles to win, deeds to be done. They have not yet learned what can’t be done. They do not get jaded by life’s heartbreaks and defeats. And because they don’t know what can’t be done, they often achieve great things. They have boundless energy. They never tire in whatever work they passionately believe in. They approach many things with a clear slate. They don’t have many of the old prejudices, that the older adults have. This is why there is often less of a problem with communal and casteist bigotry among the young than the old.
The DMK leadership correctly estimated the strength of the youth in society and successfully harnessed their idealism and boundless energy for the principles and programmes of the movement, which were mostly youth-oriented.
Whether it was the demand for Dravidanadu and later giving it up even while asserting that the reasons for secession still remained, or the agitations against Hindi imposition or the silent revolution for social reform through persuasive activities like self-respect and inter-caste marriages – they were more targeted towards younger generations in the interests of their future than the aged, who had got accustomed to living with the prevailing oppressive traditions and suffocating realities of life in absolute despondency. Of course, the Party did not lag behind in voicing the grievances of the people and launching struggles on issues like price rise and on sectional problems of workers, handloom weavers et al, as it was growing into a mass movement.
The appeal of the DMK for the youth did not abate but expanded and widened as it emerged during the anti-Hindi agitation in 1965 by the student community, the cream of the youth. It was because of such massive movements led by the Party that the menacing advance of Hindi as the sole official language was halted.
After assuming power in the State in 1967, the DMK government launched several schemes for the youth of both genders. Even as a ruling party, the DMK gave a call for organizing a ‘Day of Uprise’ urging the Centre to start Salem Steel Plant – both as a matter of staking the State’s right and for creating employment opportunities for youngsters.
The previous government of Kalaignar was pursuing a vigorous programme of industrialization taking Tamil Nadu as the most favoured destination for both domestic and foreign direct investments, thus creating tens of thousands of direct and indirect employment. In order to provide more avenues for self-employment, the DMK government was taking special interest in popularizing Self Help Groups of both young women and men and lakhs in both gender make a decent living. In order to provide at least minimum relief to the educated unemployed, the government was providing monthly financial assistance to these young men and women. One of the earliest measures taken by the government was scrapping of the freeze on recruitment to government service and departments imposed by the previous ADMK government and filling up all vacancies. Accordingly 2,28,149 youth were provided employment in five years as against the DMK poll promise to fill up three lakh vacancies in government jobs. To compensate the loss of five years for employment avenues, the minimum age in government employment for different sections of unemployed youth, was also raised by five years.
Although the Party and its governments were youthful as ever and fully addressing the concerns of the younger generations, the need for the self-initiatives of the next generations of the cadre, for strengthening the movement was felt, giving birth to the DMK Youth Wing in 1980 rightly under the stewardship of Thalapathi M.K.Stalin, who had pioneered a Youth DMK unit in his residential area Gopalapuram and involved it in all the functions and programmes of the Party. It must be underlined that the Youth Wing was inaugurated and started spreading its wings all over the State under terribly hostile and oppressive regimes. The cadres of the wing were in the forefront in all the actions and agitations of the Party against a fascist regime. Grown-up and matured under such inimical circumstances, the Youth wing cadres naturally were selfless, steeled in courage and determination. 

It is also noteworthy that the Dravidian movement in general and the DMK, the movement of the youth, by the youth and for the youth, in particular was mainly instrumental for guarding the youth of Tamil Nadu, from going astray into fissiparous, communal, chauvinist and extremist tendencies and maintain the traditions of tolerance, amity and peace loving, despite periodical provocations.
It is this strength of the wing that Kalaignar wants to boost further and prepare it more intellectually and ideologically organized so as to lead the entire youth community on a noble and idealistic path, with the same spirit and zeal of those who followed Arignar Anna in 1949.
With this objective in mind and in order to infuse fresh blood into the Youth Wing, Thalapathi M.K.Stalin launched a campaign for identifying  and recruiting new talents from the grass root levels and rejuvenate the Youth Wing.

In the first phase, interviews were conducted by Thalapathi M.K.Stalin assisted by Youth Wing Deputy Secretaries M.Subramanian, E.Sugavanam MP, SP T Sampath, Paranamathupatti Rajendran and Hasan Mohammed Jinnah, in all districts, among the aspirants for appointment of functionaries at Unions, town panchayat wards and area levels. Age limits upto 30 for the three levels and 40 years for district and city levels were fixed. In all those interviews in districts which were conducted, the respective party district secretaries were also present. At the end of the process, Thiru Stalin said over one lakh youngsters participated in these. Then lists of functionaries, for these positions were finalized with the approval of party leadership and announced.


In the second phase, these newly recruited youth wing functionaries were given ideological orientation through well organized Training camps conducted in all districts.
Eminent scholars and experienced DMK leaders including Dr. M.Nannan, Prof. Abdul Kadher, Prof. Sabapathi Mohan, Prof. A.Ramasamy, Dr. K.Ponmudy, Thiru Durai Murugan, 


N.Selvendran and N.Siva MP imparted training on ‘History of the Dravidian movement’. ‘Social Justice’ and ‘Language agitation’. Those who attended the camps were much benefited.
In the third phase, interviews for ‘appointing organizers and deputy organizers for district and city units were conducted at Anbagam, the Youth Wing headquarters in Chennai.
The DMK’s Youth Wing will hold a State-level conference soon after obtaining permission from the party high command, said Thalapathi M.K. Stalin, secretary of the youth wing on Sep.19 at the end of the third phase.

More Questions raised than Clarifications offered

Delivering the valedictory address at the sesquicentenary (150^th year) celebration at the Madras High Court on September 8, President Pranab Mukherjee noted with concern:

“The separation of powers, long established as one of the basic features of our Constitution, ensures that each organ of government operates within its own sphere and none takes over functions assigned to the other.  It is the Constitution that is supreme. The laws are enacted by the legislature, the executive does the implementation, and the judiciary is the final interpreter of these laws.  The delicate balance of power enshrined in the Constitution should be maintained at all times.

However, a note of caution needs to be sounded.  Judicial activism should not lead to the Constitutional principles of separation of power getting eroded. Judicial pronouncements must respect the boundaries that separate the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.

The principle of separation of powers is equally a principle of restraint.  While the exercise of powers of the legislature and executive are subject to judicial review, the only check on the judiciary’s exercise of powers is the self-imposed discipline and self-restraint.”

Chief Justice of India S.H. Kapadia on August 25 said judges should not govern the country or evolve policies, and they should apply the enforceability test on some verdicts like making sleep a fundamental right.

Doing some frank introspection on the judiciary’s functioning, he wondered what would happen if the executive refused to comply with its directives that might not be enforceable.

“Right to life, we have said, includes environmental protection, right to live with dignity. Now we have included right to sleep, where are we going? It is not a criticism. Is it capable of being enforced? When you expand the right, the judge must explore enforceability.

“Questions which judges must ask are if it is capable of being enforced. Judges must apply enforceability test. Today if a judge proposes a policy matter, the government says we are not going to follow. Are you going by way of contempt or [to] implement it?” the CJI asked.

Delivering a lecture on “Jurisprudence of Constitutional Structure,” he was making an apparent reference to the recent Supreme Court judgment on police action against Baba Ramdev’s supporters on the Ramlila Maidan, in which “Right to Sleep” was declared a fundamental right.

“Judges should not govern this country. We need to go by strict principle. Whenever you lay down a law, it should not interfere with governance. We are not accountable to people. Objectivity and certainty enshrined in the basic principles of the Constitution have to be given weightage.”

Justice Kapadia said judges should go strictly by the constitutional principles which had clearly demarcated powers among the judiciary, the legislature and the executive.

These statements from the Head of the State, the President of India and the Chief Justice of India have at a time when they were intended not to join any public discourse at the national level, but borne out of serious concern over the increasing trend of the judiciary authoritatively infringing upon the domains of the executives, leading to cascading impacts on industry, economy and foreign relations of the nation and the very democratic fabric of the country.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Sep.17 refused to entertain a government's plea not to hear a PIL on alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks and sought an explanation whether guidelines were flouted in allotments.

The apex court, which turned down the Centre's contention that the petition based on the CAG report which is under the scrutiny of Parliament's PAC cannot be considered, said "the petitioner has sought to point out illegality and there is nothing wrong in it."

A bench comprising justices R M Lodha and A R Dave said the prayer seeking a direction for alleged "unconstitutional" and "arbitrary" allocation of coal blocks "requires explanation from you (centre) because it is not the distribution of state's property in small scale but it talks about tons of largesse."

The bench rejected Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman's contention that the petition based on the CAG report was "premature" as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) headed by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi was slated to examine it from September 20 about the correctness of allocation.

"Nevertheless, keeping in view the CAG is a constitutional functionary and whether its report is final or not, it has a value. And here the petitioner has sought to bring point to show illegality and there is nothing wrong.

"Least are we concerned with the correctness of report which will be examined by the PAC or Parliament. But we can rely on it (CAG report)," the bench said adding that "these are different exercises (before the court and PAC)."

"There is a difference in the exercise done by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Parliament and PAC can proceed with the issue on the basis of the CAG report. We don't want to encroach upon their exercise but the petition raises different things altogether. There are sufficient averments which require explanation from you," the court said.

Issuing the notice to the Government, the bench also made it clear that it is confining itself only to the aspect of guidelines formulated by the Centre for allocation of coal blocks and directed the Secretary, Ministry of Coal, file a detailed affidavit within eight weeks on the guidelines and policies followed on the subject of allocation of coal blocks.

The court passed the order while hearing a PIL filed by advocate M L Sharma on the alleged coal blocks scam which has purportedly caused a huge loss to public exchequer.

The bench also sought to know whether the guidelines for allocation of coal blocks were strictly followed and whether by their allocation, the objectives of policies were realised.

The bench wanted to know what were the hindrances for not following the policy of "competitive bidding" adopted by it in 2004 for allocation of the coal blocks.

Lastly, the court sought to know what steps were proposed to be taken against the allottees who have not adhered to the terms of allocation or have breached the agreement.

During the hearing, the Solicitor General informed the bench that the criminality aspect of the alleged irregularities in the coal block allocation was already being looked into by the CBI.

"We are at present touching the allocation part and no other thing," the bench said. "Our focus is on the issue of guidelines followed in the allocation of coal blocks," it added.

In spite of the Solicitor General pleading that the CAG report on coal allocation submitted to the Parliament is to be taken up for examination by the Public Accounts Committee from Sep.20 about the correctness of the allocation, and hence the petition based on the CAG report was ‘presumptive’, the court was impatient and had refused to entertain the plea the court had said ‘the CAG is a constitutional functionary’ ‘Least are we concerned with the correctness of the report’ . “But we can rely on it”, which is patently contradictory. Once again they have asked why the policy of ‘competitive bidding’ was not followed. It is here the points raised by Union Minister Kapil Sibal, also a Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court’ are relevant (See page No.9 of this issue)

If the institution of the CAG is a ‘constitutional functionary’ what are the Executive and Parliament? If the CAG report is ipso facto sacrosanct, why should its correctness or otherwise be examined by the PAC and Parliament?

The observations of the Supreme Court raises more such questions than it clarifies!