Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

"DMK government not consulting allies on major issues"

Special Correspondent

PMK will function as a responsible Opposition party: Ramadoss

S. Ramadoss

CHENNAI: The Pattali Makkal Katchi, an ally of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, on Monday publicly rebuked the State Government.

S. Ramadoss, PMK founder, said a common minimum programme could have been drawn up and a State-level coordination committee set up when the government was formed. On major issues, there was no consultation with the allies, he charged.

The criticism regarding the role of the Tourism and Art and Culture departments in the Chennai Sangamam event was not without substance. Except in Villupuram, Government music colleges in the State were functioning from rented premises, he said.

Dr. Ramadoss, who addressed a press conference along with party president G.K. Mani, reiterated that "we will function as a responsible Opposition party. This will be evident in the coming budget session of the Assembly."

However, he made it clear that there was no change in the PMK's support to the DMK government. Dr. Ramadoss hoped that in future, Chief Minister M. Karuanidhi would take the allies into confidence while taking decisions on important issues.

Thanking the Chief Minister for his assurance on the Chennai airport expansion project, Dr. Ramadoss said the Government should speedily decide on the site for a new airport. Improvements could be made in the existing airport, but there should be no expansion at the present site, he said.

On All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa's announcement of a protest fast, the PMK leader said this was against the interests of Tamil Nadu and was politically motivated.

Different yardsticks

On the Central Government rejecting the State's plea for introduction of Tamil in the Madras High Court, Dr. Ramadoss said there was a perception among the people that the Centre was adopting different yardsticks on the matter as High Courts in northern States had been authorised to conduct proceedings in Hindi.

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