After vociferously opposing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the multi-brand retail sector, the DMK on Wednesday appeared to tone down its stand on the issue, saying it would take a final decision taking into consideration the interest of small and medium traders.
When asked by reporters whether the DMK would support the resolution to be moved in Parliament by Left parties and others against the FDI proposal, Mr. Karunanidhi said his party would express its opinion after consulting party MPs.
On October 1, after a party executive committee meeting, he had said if any party moved a resolution against the FDI decision, the DMK would support it.
A resolution adopted by the executive committee had also urged the Centre to reconsider its decision on allowing FDI in the retail sector in view of opposition from many quarters.
On Wednesday, asked to spell out his position categorically instead of keeping everyone in suspense on whether the party would support the opposition-sponsored resolution, Mr. Karunanidhi said that as one who had written the screenplay and dialogues for more than 100 films, he would say “suspense” was an element that would ensure any movie’s success.
When it was pointed out to him that small traders had serious apprehensions about the proposal and asked what was the need for any suspense about the party‘s stand, he said the DMK would take into account the fear of small traders while taking a decision.
Reservation issue
In a separate statement, he called upon the state government to implead itself in a case related to reservation in Punjab, as its outcome would have a bearing on the exclusive reservation given to the Arundathiyar community in Tamil Nadu.
He said the three per cent exclusive reservation for Arundathiyars, a Dalit community, had been challenged in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court and the court had been informed about the reservation case in Punjab that awaits judgment in the Supreme Court.
