Political Issue Reports

Report: 1

“Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi’s dream of remaining in power will not

become reality” : Vijayakant

Chennai September 13:

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Vijayakant has urged his party
men to rescue people of Tamil Nadu from the clutches of DMK by defeating them in the
Assembly elections. People are looking for change and ensuring DMK’s defeat is our
responsibility. Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi’s dream of remaining in power will not
become reality he said.

Mr.Vijayakant said though the DMDK entered the fray very new, it secured 8.5 percent
votes. “People are supporting us even though we contest on our own. We never organise
any protests that will cause nuisance to the public” he said. The actor-turned politician
said while poverty, unemployment, price rise had plunged many families into terrible
situation; many families are still leading a comfortable life.

Adding that DMK government says that there are 52 lakh poor families in state and 19
lakh of them living in poverty, people are desperately looking for change in government.

SOURCE: Deccan Chronicle Library.

Report: 2
Jayalalithaa urges Centre to reconsider cotton export

Chennai September 16:

AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Wednesday urged Centre to reconsider its
decision on cotton export during season 2010-2011 which might lead to artificial price
rise and also affect domestic textile industry. As per a press release, she said the centre
needs to discuss the matter with those concerned and take appropriate steps without
harming textile industry. At this juncture, where the industry is hit due to yarn price rise,
Centre’s permission for exporting from October will result to companies running into loss
she said.

Quoting figures she said, the country’s total cotton production was about 320 lakh bales,
and that it would be advisable to allow export of cotton only after verification of stocks
position, otherwise it will bring textile sector to a halt.

SOURCE: Press Release

Report: 3

Jayalalithaa to lead demonstration

Chennai September 18:

AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa will lead a party demonstration on Oct 18 in
Madurai to highlight issues including price rise of essential commodities and DMK
government failure on Mullaperiyar Dam front. As per a statement released on Friday,
Ms. Jayalalithaa complained that Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi shocked by the response
to demonstration is trying to create hurdles for the Madurai demonstrations. She said that
she will not bow down after incidents of receiving threat letters of warning.

On Mullaperiyar dam issue, Ms. Jayalalithaa told that Supreme Court order in February
2006 to allow water level to be raised from 136ft to 142ft got deflected after DMK
regime took over in May 2006. On power shortage, she said that poor maintenance of
stations, inferior quality of coal and failure to secure state’s rights from Centre were the
major reasons. Incorrect economic policies of the Centre and the State have lead to the
rise of essential commodities, the AIADMK leader said.

SOURCE: Press Statement

Report: 4
Provide Vaccines free says Jayalalithaa

Chennai September 19:

AIADMK general secretary Ms. Jayalalithaa has asked clarification from the state
government regarding providing vaccine for A(H1N1) free of charges at the government
hospitals. The government should have taken a policy to provide vaccine free to the
people at a time when A(H1N1) is spreading rapidly in Tamil Nadu. Instead the Health
Minister is asking the public to go the private hospital to get themselves vaccinated she
said.

The vaccine can cost upto Rs.600 in private hospital which will not be affordable to the
poor people, she added.

SOURCE: Press Release

Report: 5
Attempt to divert people’s attention: CPI(M)

Chennai September 19:

CPI(M) general secretary G. Ramakrishnan complained that Chief Minister
M.Karunanidhi was accusing the CPI(M) of instigating Maoists against the DMK
government only to divert people’s attention from series of protests. “The CPI(M) has
never had any links with Maoists and in fact we are the victims of their violence.” he told
the reporters. He also added that Dalits in Uthapuram were not allowed to use roads even
after the wall was demolished and were also not allowed to worship peepal tree. He also
said that party men were suddenly arrested after they received calls from Chennai. Mr.
Ramakrishnan accused the government of indulging in such incidents whenever there are
protests by people.

Report: 6
Students to get five eggs a week under meal scheme

Chennai September 15:

Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi have announced that five boiled eggs a week will be given
to students covered under nutritious meal scheme. Currently three eggs were given on
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Declaring open the Anna Centenary Library(ACL) at
Kotturpuram, Mr. Karunanidhi announced that five eggs would be given on working days
of schools a week. Those who did not consume eggs were given bananas. There will also
be increase in wages of conservancy workers employed by the government, government
undertakings. They would also be entitled to periodical increase in dearness allowance.
Reduction in bus fares for people coming from far-off places is alse being proposed, said
the chief minister.

Mr. Karunanidhi commended School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu for

completion of the library project and also unveiled the sculpture of formed chief minister
C.N Annadurai. Referring to the present collection at ACL, Mr. Thennarasu said that no
other library had five lakh books on the day of its inauguration. Mr. Karunanidhi was
presented with the first membership card by G. Arivoli, Publics Library Director. Deputy
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also attended the function.

SOURCE: Deccan Chronicle Reporter

Report: 7
AIADMK to take pledge to dethrone DMK regime

Chennai September 15:

AIADMK general secretary Ms. Jayalalithaa has asked her party men to take a pledge on
the 102nd birth anniversary of C.N. Annadurai to dethrone the DMK from power in the
coming Assembly elections. As per a press statement, she said DMK founder Anna and
AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran left the party president post as a mark of respect
but M. Karunanidhi occupied most of the post of president, which is against his mentor’s
principles.

She also accused that Mr. Karunanidhi of lowering the image of the state by suppressing
the voice of opposition and the media, involving family members in film and media to
gain public attention and sympathy.

SOURCE: Press Release

Report: 8
Karunanidhi to inaugurate ACL on Wednesday

Chennai September 14:

One of the most important suggestions from Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi during the
inspection of Anna Centenary Library on Tuesday was to make the sign boards very clear
and place them at convenient places so that visitors face no difficulty. The library will be
formally inaugurated by him on Wednesday. According to officials, he spent half an hour
inspecting the ground, first and second floor and also went to the auditorium and
conference hall. He was particularly impressed with the automation systems at the facility
and was interested in the children’s section officials said.

Other officials including Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy, School Education

Minister Thangam Thennarasu were also present.

SOURCE: Deccan Chronicle Library

Report: 9

Only small amount needed for Caste-wise census says Ramadoss

Chennai September 13:

According to Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S. Ramadoss the state government should
take up caste-wise census in states as only small amount will be required. In a press
statement, he said that the Central government had estimated that Rs.2000 crore would 17
needed for taking up the caste-wise census throughout the country and for the State it
would cost less than Rs. 200 crore.

SOURCE: Press Release

Report: 10
Stalin wants projects in SEZs speeded up

Chennai September 17:

Deputy Chief Minister promised to provide IT sector world class infrastructure and also
wanted projects in SEZs to be speeded up. Addressing the valedictory of “Connect
2010”, the annual ICT event hosted by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mr. Stalin
said that government was actively promoting IT SEZs. The government is also focused
on making Chennai a destination of growth and development.

State IT Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna said Tamil Nadu has highest number of IT
SEZs in India and IT industry overall provide employment to over 3.24 lakh people. It
industry would continue to grow and add jobs in the state said S.Gopalakrishnan,
Chairman, CII-Southern region. According to S. Mahalingam, Chairman, Connect 2010,
some of the key needs included to create strong intellectual property foundation, setting
up of skill development centres and vocational institutes and creating a world class
technology institute in Chennai.

Deputy Chief Minister also presented CII-ICICI Venture Connect Entreprenuer of the
Year Award to Madhava Reddy, founder-president and CEO, HTC Global Services, and
the Lifetime Achievement Award to R. Ramaraj, co-founder and CEO of Sify.

SOURCE: Deccan Chronicle Reporter.