Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Sunday rejected the suggestion for bifurcation of Tamil Nadu for better administration, saying such an idea had no place in the State.
“Neither the DMK nor the people of Tamil Nadu harbour the idea,” he told reporters after inspecting the construction works of the Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram.
On Saturday, PMK leader Ramadoss, an advocate of bifurcation of bigger States, including Tamil Nadu, argued that the newly formed States were witnessing development.
Telangana issue
When asked whether the Centre had mishandled the Telangana issue, as the announcement for creation of a separate State had triggered violence, the Chief Minister said a belated announcement and a hasty decision should be avoided.
Water issue
He refused to respond when asked about AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa’s allegations in the election campaign that the DMK government had failed to protect the interests of the State in Mullaperiyar dam issue and the Cauvery water dispute.
In a separate statement, he called upon the AIADMK and the CPI to think twice before launching an agitation against that Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill, since the Bill would not be introduced in Parliament in the current session.
Recalling Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s reassurance to the fishermen that further decision on the Bill would be taken only after consulting coastal States, Mr. Karunanidhi said that CPI State secretary Pandian might have announced a protest since the AIADMK had decided to hold a demonstration in Delhi.
The Chief Minister congratulated doctors of the Government General Hospital, who had successfully performed heart transplantation.
Impact of Downtown report
Mr. Karunanidhi said he had ordered officials to immediately repair the government school in Virugambakkam run by the Adi Dravidar Welfare department.
The news about the pathetic condition of the school was highlighted in the Downtown supplement of The Hindu.
“Immediately after reading the news, I made inquiries and directed the secretary of the department to take action,” he said.
