The Hindu : Front Page : “Congress has not forgiven Rajiv Gandhi’s killers”

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Monday, Nov 05, 2007
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“Congress has not forgiven Rajiv Gandhi’s killers”

Special Correspondent

G.K.Vasan

CHENNAI: The Congress has neither forgotten the gruesome murder of its leader Rajiv Gandhi nor forgiven the perpetrators of the crime, G.K. Vasan, Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, said on Sunday.

He was responding to a reporter’s observation that some leaders of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (which includes the Congress) paid tributes to the LTTE’s political wing chief Thamilchelvan, who was killed in an air attack in Sri Lanka on Friday.

When pointed out that posters had been pasted in parts of Chennai on Thamilchelvan’s death, the Union Minister said: “We will convey our position to our party leadership. We will also express anguish.”

Assistance distributed

Earlier, he distributed assistance to members of women self-help groups at a function organised by the Tamil Nadu Mahila Congress and Sarojini Varadappan Mahilar Sangam at his residence in Alwarpet.

On the attack on the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M. Krishnasswamy, the Union Minister hoped than an inquiry officer appointed by the State Government would submit his report within the stipulated time and those responsible for the attack would be brought to book.

He added that it was the duty of the police to provide adequate protection to leaders of political parties during their visit to sensitive areas.

Referring to the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s stir against the transfer of the Pollachi-Kinathukadavu section to the Palakkad division, Mr. Vasan said the Railway Ministry would examine the issue. Pointing out that the establishment of the Salem railway division was a result of the collective efforts of the DPA, he particularly thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

Projects sanctioned

Noting that a climate of good relations between the Central and State Governments prevailed, Mr. Vasan said the Union Government sanctioned 68 projects worth Rs. 36,500 crore. Several projects, which did not take off during the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime, were being implemented.

A.S. Maheshwari, president of the Mahila Congress, said the women’s wing would constitute a cell for non-government organisations and arrange training programmes for better functioning of the NGOs.

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