The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, if voted to power, will increase reservation for Muslims, party general secretary Jayalalithaa said here on Friday.
Campaigning in Srirangam and Tiruchi city for the second consecutive day, Ms. Jayalalithaa said she had restructured the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes Welfare Commission during her previous regime. But Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi had unilaterally restructured the Commission in 2006, without representation to Muslims, she alleged.
The 3.5 per cent quota for Muslims was also not properly implemented. If voted to power, she would not only raise the quota for Muslims and also ensure that it was properly implemented, she said during her second-day campaign at Karumandapam in Tiruchi West constituency, where the party has fielded N. Mariam Pitchai against Transport Minister K.N. Nehru.
Stating that she was aware of the “travails” that the people had undergone over the past five years, Ms. Jayalalithaa said Mr. Karunanidhi was not interested in the welfare of the people. He was only attempting to hoodwink the people.
“Has he done anything to check price rise” she asked the audience, evoking a chorus in the negative. “It is now in your hands to find a solution to the problems.” She also told the voters to act according to their conscience if some tried to lure them with money.
Under the AIADMK rule, Tamil Nadu enjoyed a respectable position in the country. But now the State has become a subject of ridicule. Under her regime, Tamil Nadu had surplus power, but now it is a power-deficit State. The Chief Minister was unable to prevent the killings of Tamil Nadu fishermen. Sand smuggling and land grabbing were rampant, she said. If voted to power, the AIADMK would ensure the continuation of all useful welfare schemes, control price rise, put an end to power cuts and maintain law and order.
Assurance to ryots
Addressing wayside meetings at Ramji Nagar, Punganur, Inamkulathur and Maravanur, she touched upon various local issues and promised permanent solutions for them. She assured that the problems faced by the farming community would be addressed.
She assured that steps would be taken to ensure that farmers were not affected on account of the four-lane highway across irrigation tanks in Punganur and Kallikudi.
All villages would be provided roads and bus connectivity.
