“If the Jayalalithaa-led government dares to alter the Anna Centenary Library into a hospital, I'll immolate myself to prevent the attempt,” Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi warned on Thursday.
Addressing an election meeting at Sankarankoil near here in the night, Mr. Karunanidhi said that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, while refusing to introduce ‘Samacheer Kalvi' in schools, shifted the Classical Tamil Library to some other place. The introduction of ‘Samacheer Kalvi' in schools across the State could be accomplished only after the Supreme Court intervened.
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When it initiated steps to transform the Anna Centenary Library, one of the best in Asia, into a hospital, legal intervention was sought by the DMK to retain it in its present shape.
“This legal battle may extend up to even the Supreme Court. If the Jayalalithaa government dares to take steps to convert it into a hospital even after a verdict from the higher judiciary, Karunanidhi will immolate himself to stall the move and none can prevent me from doing it,” he warned.
The former Chief Minister said the AIADMK government had started foisting cases on DMK leaders and cadres and was making unsuccessful attempts to dampen their spirit.
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On power situation, he said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was not interested in the early commissioning of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) even though the first unit of the project was ready.
“She, who came to power by putting the blame on the DMK government for power cuts, is now not bothered about people's predicament created by frequent, prolonged blackouts.”
Listing the achievements of his government during the past five years and also the welfare schemes introduced during this period, Mr. Karunanidhi said his government had sanctioned the Rs.369-crore project for linking the Tamirabharani, Karumaeniyar and Nambiyar to take surplus water of the perennial river to the dry regions of the district.
“As a mark of disapproving the present callous administration and approving the meticulous management of the previous DMK government, you should support our candidate J. Jawahar Suryakumar in the March 18 by-poll,” he appealed.
Alliance party leaders Khader Mohideen of the IUML, Thol. Thirumavalavan of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, former Congress MP R. Dhanushkodi Athithan and former minister S. Durai Murugan spoke.