DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Monday described as a “ridiculous, strange and farcical drama” Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s decision to hold demonstration against the hike in the price of diesel, LPG cylinders and rail fare, saying the decision had been made keeping in mind the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
“It is strange because the AIADMK government had imposed new taxes to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore on the people of Tamil Nadu and substantially increased the price of milk, electricity tariff and bus fare. Now it is going to organise a demonstration on January 24 against the Centre,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Karunanidhi pointed out that though Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam told the Assembly that power crisis in the State would be resolved in a phased manner and by August 2012 there would be no power cut, there was no improvement in the situation even in January, 2013.
As regards Ms. Jayalalithaa’s allegation that the DMK, a partner in the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, had been supporting the government and betraying the interests of the State, Mr. Karunanidhi said the DMK never made any compromise when it came to issues concerning Tamil Nadu.
“The DMK strongly condemned the decision of the Centre to cut subsidy for the LPG cylinders for domestic consumption,” he said.
