The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : State, Central governments have failed to check price rise, says Jayalalithaa

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Monday, Sep 15, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

State, Central governments have failed to check price rise, says Jayalalithaa

Staff Reporter

The ‘Re.-one-a-kg-rice’ scheme will only encourage smuggling

— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

Critical posturing: AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa addressing a public meeting in Theni on Sunday.

THENI: The State and the Central governments have miserably failed to check the price rise. Ill planning and ineffective administration have led to acute power crisis in the State. These unfit, inefficient and anti-people governments should be thrown out of power, said Jayalalithaa, general secretary, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, on Sunday.

Addressing a gathering at Karuvelnaickenpatti near here on Sunday evening, she strongly criticised both the State and Central governments for failing to protect the interests of people.

Listing the difference in prices of essential commodities, including rice, oil and cereals during her term and the present rule, Ms. Jayalalithaa squarely blamed the State government for the pathetic condition of the State. When the prices of all items were skyrocketing, how could the people live with rice alone? The ‘Re. 1 a kg rice’ scheme would only encourage smuggling.

Good quality rice had already been smuggled to the neighbouring States and poor quality supplied to card holders.

Mr. Karunanidhi had no time to settle the problems of the poor and downtrodden. He was busy talking to film industry people, she said. Why did not Mr. Karunanidhi, who rushed to New Delhi in pursuit of his personal interests, make a single effort to solve the power crisis. Tamil Nadu had surplus power during the AIADMK rule.

It generated 10,011 MW whereas the demand was 8,775 MW only. Windmill power generation was excluded at that time, she said.

During the DMK period, the Centre had cut power supply to the State from the national grid by 700 MW and slashed gas supply.

Procurement of poor quality coal too had affected the power generation in the State, she said.

The State has been plagued by illegal sand mining, paralysed industries, power-loom crisis, weavers’ troubles and deterioration of law and order.

People should take a pledge to throw this government out of power, she said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa cheered the crowd by singing songs from MGR films.

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