Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan on Friday alleged that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who was not able to address the problems of ordinary Dalits, was using the “Dalit card” to duck the 2G spectrum scam.
Addressing a public meeting here, Mr. Ramakrishnan, who had visited the flood-affected districts such as Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, said the Dalits had been displaced and were living in schools after recent rain ravaged their settlements.
“They are groping in the dark, not knowing from where the next meal will come. There are Dalits facing discrimination in many parts of the States. In places such as Uthapuram their entry is prevented. The Chief Minister who is not able to address these issues, is using the Dalit card to protect former Minister A. Raja,” he said.
He asked why the Chief Minister was objecting to a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) if he was convinced that there were no irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum.
On Karunanidhi's speeches
Recalling Mr. Karunanidhi's speeches made in the wake of spectrum scam, Mr. Ramakrishnan said that though the Communists appreciated his talents as writer and speaker, he would not succeed in protecting Mr. Raja by utilising his skills.
‘BJP too can't take pride'
He said the Bharatiya Janata Party too could not take any pride when it came to clean image in politics, because its Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa was facing charges over allocation of lands in Karnataka.
CPI (M) North Chennai district secretary T.K. Shanmugam said the Chief Minister's family was fully controlling the film world, that no theatre in the city was ready to screen the Tamil version of the film ‘Ambedkar' as it would not generate any revenue.
Probe sought
In a separate statement, Mr. Ramakrishnan sought a probe into the alleged irregularities in the allocation of TNHB plots and flats under government discretionary quota.
“Many allottees are wealthy people who already own houses in their name. There are also irregularities in fixing the price,” Mr. Ramakrishnan alleged.
