The Union government had advised States to see to it that the fiscal deficit did not exceed three per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) by March 2012, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Sunday.
Referring to criticism in certain quarters that the per capita loan burden in the State was growing, the Chief Minister said loans could be bought up to 25 per cent of the GSDP.
He was addressing the valedictory of the millennium celebration of the Big Temple here. Referring to the popularity of the ongoing millennium exhibition at the palace complex here, the Chief Minister said that the exhibition would continue for a week.
Mr. Karunanidhi said there could be no government in power in a democracy which would burden citizens with debt. This would be more relevant for Tamil Nadu.
Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan said that though the history of the State was not adequately and comprehensively documented, the Tamil literature had filled the gap. The rule of Rajaraja Chola marked the renaissance of Tamil language. Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture V. Narayanaswamy said that the Union Culture Ministry had sanctioned Rs.25 crore for improving the moat and temple. Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan said the Chola emperor had conceived and executed grand schemes. The Big Temple was a testimony to this.
Union Minister for Communications A. Raja said the Chief Minister had retrieved lost symbols of cultural identity of Tamils. S. Malathi, Chief Secretary, said that a dance festival on the lines of the Mamallapuram festival would be held in Thanjavur in December. “Poongatru,” another cultural programme, would be organised in parks in the town for 30 weeks. Besides, street corner cultural programmes would continue. Among those who spoke were Ministers Durai Murugan, K. Ponmudy, Thangam Thennarasu and S.N. M. Ubayadullah and Tourism and Culture Secretary V. Iraianbu.
