In the first joint public rally of the Congress and the DMK since the arrest of former communications minister A Raja, Congress President Sonia Gandhi stayed clear of the controversial 2G spectrum scandal and praised DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi for his “unparallel” contribution to the state.
Amid loud cheers, Gandhi said both the Congress at the Centre and DMK at the state level believed in inclusive development for the poor, dalits, other backward castes and minorities. She promised to serve the people of the state if the alliance came to power.
“We all know that dalits, OBCs and minorities want their rights, dignity, equality and justice, the model of development of the Congress and DMK is different from other parties and both parties believe that the fruits of development should reach to all sections of the people,” Sonia Gandhi told a public rally in Chennai. Chief Minister M Karunanidhi shared the dias with her.
Raja was arrested in connection with the 2G allocation scam.
While praising Karunanidhi, Gandhi said the unrelenting support from the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had ensured that Tamil Nadu got a considerable share of central funds. The annual plan for the state in 2011 was at Rs 17,500 crore while in 2006 it was at Rs 9,765 crore.
“Because of the unparallel contribution of M Karunanidhi and support from the Centre, the state is now a leader in sugar, textile and information technology, the state government is providing mid-day meals for children, monetary benefits for mothers and free electricity to farmers, the welfare activities in Tamil Nadu is now being used in other states as well.”
Touching upon the contentious issue of Tamil-speaking people in Sri Lanka, Gandhi said the Union government had provided large sums to help the rehabilitation work of Tamil refugees.
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“The Centre is pressing Sri Lanka to ensure equal rights to the Tamil-speaking people living in the country. The government is equally concerned about the loss of lives of Indian fishermen and we would like to reassure that there would be no further firing on our fishermen,” Gandhi said.
Hoping for an early solution to the plight of fishermen from the state, Karunanidhi asked Gandhi to personally intervene in the matter. The chief minister also appealed to the Centre to retrieve Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka. He said: “The rights of fishermen to dry their nets, fish in the island and visit the temples were denied following the 1974 Indo-Sri Lanka accord. It is not only a matter of our right, but it is an issue concerning our life.”
Karunanidhi also urged the Centre to make concerted efforts to speed up the relief and rehabiliation process and mitigate the sufferings of Sri Lankan Tamils. “The Centre should ensure a political solution to the issue by providing equal rights and equal powers to Tamils. It is the duty and responsibility to speed up the rehabiliation work and mitigate their sufferings.”