Karunanidhi: It is not caretaker government

April 25, 2011 03:14 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 02:53 am IST - Chennai

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi addressing presspersons at the new Secretariat on Monday. Photo : DIPR

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi addressing presspersons at the new Secretariat on Monday. Photo : DIPR

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday asserted that his government is not a caretaker government but continuation of the regime [that was elected in the 2006 Assembly election].

Reacting to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)'s petition addressed to the Election Commission on Sunday, in which his government has been described as caretaker government, Mr. Karunanidhi told a press conference at the new Secretariat complex that a caretaker government was one which had been defeated in elections but was asked to continue till the new regime took office.

Even those with rudimentary knowledge of law will be able to make the distinction between a caretaker government and the present government, he said.

As for the AIADMK's allegation of the DMK government's attempt to destroy important files, the Chief Minister said the “bundle of lies” was to divert public attention.

On the advice of legal experts, action would be taken against those who made such allegations.

On the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Mr. Karunanidhi said that his party had been more vigorously supporting the cause than others. “The DMK has always provided unflinching support to those who are involved in the freedom struggle.”

His party would not abandon them, even though they had approached others for support.

To a query on the reported remark of Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be declared a war criminal, Mr. Karunanidhi responded that his position did not differ from that of Dr. Ramadoss.

On the imposition of one-hour load-shedding in Chennai, the Chief Minister said the entire country was facing power shortage.

2G spectrum

To questions on the possible inclusion of his family members in the supplementary charge sheet of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the 2G spectrum allocation issue, Mr. Karunanidhi said that he had no information. When the charge sheet is filed, the details regarding the inclusion will be known.

Asked if the DMK would quit the Congress-led alliance in the event of the inclusion of names of his family members, his reply was that one should not ask such a question.

DMK letter

As regards the AIADMK contention in its petition that offices of government departments, now functioning at the Secretariat complex in Fort St. George, were sought to be shifted when the model code of conduct was in force, the DMK, in its letter to Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, stated that even before the code came into force, the Departments of Public, Home, Public Works, Industries and Rural Development had started functioning at the new Secretariat [on Omandurar Government Estate] besides the Legislative Assembly Secretariat.

The DMK condemned the allegations made in the AIADMK petition and wanted suitable action to be initiated by the Election Commission against the persons concerned. At the press conference, Mr. Karunanidhi pointed out that seven meetings of the Cabinet had been held at the new Secretariat.

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