The Hindu : Front Page : PMK demand unreasonable: CPI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 07, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

PMK demand unreasonable: CPI

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Pattali Makkal Katchi founder leader S. Ramadoss’ demand for a Rajya Sabha seat is “unreasonable,” said State secretary of the Communist Party of India D. Pandian.

Talking to newsmen here on Thursday, he said the PMK was allotted a seat in the 2004 Rajya Sabha elections. So there was no justification in Dr. Ramadoss’ demand for a seat this time. In the alliance talks held during the last Assembly elections in 2006, the PMK leader did not raise any such demand. Moreover, the CPI (M) had been demanding a seat right from the time of Assembly elections. He appealed to the PMK to be generous and support the alliance parties in the election.

Anti-social elements

Mr. Pandian alleged that a section of police forces in the State was in collusion with “anti-social elements” causing a “sense of insecurity” among the people. He regretted that the “activities of anti-social elements were on the rise with the connivance of some political parties and law and order machinery.” Justifying his charge, the senior CPI leader said a village panchayat president was brutally killed in Tiruvarur district on March 4 for demanding action against “illicit liquor” trade. Two months ago the Tiruvarur district secretary of the ruling party was murdered in broad daylight. It was high time that all political parties put their heads together to weed out anti-social elements. In this connection, the party planned to mobilise party youths and train them to counter the activities of “anti-social elements” to defend the rights and lives of the people.

Mr. Pandian, who was re-elected as secretary in the recent State conference of the party at Pudukottai, said the meet adopted a resolution urging the Centre to give top priority to the linking of peninsular rivers. It should be included in the next five year plan and the work should commence next year.

Sethu project

He wanted the Centre to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers of the States concerned to discuss the issue. By another resolution, the party demanded early completion of the Sethusamuduram project.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page