Why blame us for your inefficiency, asks Karunanidhi

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 6. The DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, today joined issue with the Finance Minister, Mr. C. Ponnaiyan, who charged the previous DMK regime with `financial mismanagement'.

Denouncing Mr. Ponnaiyan for blaming the previous regime for his `inefficiency', Mr. Karunanidhi, in a statement here, said despite a severe financial crunch, the DMK Government successfully managed the State's finances during its five-year rule.

``Though the finances were never surplus at any point of time, the DMK Government implemented the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, involving about Rs. 1,200 crores and sanctioned DA increase for its employees as and when it was due''. The DMK during its rule had never shied away from its commitment.

Referring to the Minister's charge that the previous Government had left a burden of about Rs. 700 crores, Mr. Karunanidhi reminded him that it was the DMK regime which cleared the bills of contractors and suppliers for works carried out during the previous AIADMK rule. Not only that, it paid for the `wasteful expenditure' incurred by the AIADMK Government in the name of security for the then Chief Minister. It was customary for any Government to honour the commitment made by its predecessor.

Criticising Mr. Ponnaiyan for making vague and wild allegations, the DMK leader said that as a Minister he should be specific in his charges and should not indulge in mere mudslugging. Justifying the DMK Government's paddy procurement operations, Mr. Karunanidhi wanted the Minister to think of the farmers' plight if the Government did not purchase paddy from them. The duty of a government did not end with procuring paddy for the public distribution system. It had to ensure a remunerative price for the farmers.

Mr. Karunanidhi complimented the PMK on its `factual paper' on the State finances and said the Government's White Paper had dealt with only revenue expenditure and not with capital expenditure.

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Section  : Southern States
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