DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Friday accused Chief Minister Jayalalithaa of trying to escape the responsibility for the power crisis gripping the State by shifting the blame to the DMK and the Union Government.
“She is trying to escape blame by levelling allegations against the Centre and the previous DMK regime,” Mr. Karunanidhi told reporters when asked about Ms. Jayalalithaa’s allegation that if Tamil Nadu was witnessing a power shortage, it was because of the failure of the DMK regime to take efforts for augmenting supply.
“Tamil Nadu has plunged into darkness and Ms. Jayalalithaa, who is responsible for the current situation, has no locus standi to refer to the power crisis or issue any statement on it,” he said.
Asked about the Chief Minister’s allegation that technically the DMK did not take any steps to get electricity from the Centre or from other States and the Congress-led UPA Government was also responsible for it, he said: “Let her show some interest because she is in power.
“She promised to solve the power crisis in three months. How many months have passed? In the past the load shedding was only for two to three hours. Now, we are witnessing it for 14 to 15 hours.”
To a question whether the DMK would make a representation to the Centre seeking more electricity for Tamil Nadu, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Chief Minister had already written to the Centre and if she made a request to the Opposition, all political parties would approach the Centre through their MPs.
“Many ways to overcome the crisis”
Mr. Karunanidhi said though there were many ways to overcome the power shortage in the state, the Chief Minister was not interested in trying out those means. “She is also not keen on identifying those who have the skills to resolve the crisis.”
