Karunanidhi opposes NLC divestment

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, leader of the DMK, a constituent of the UPA government at the Centre, has protested the proposed disinvestment of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC).

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Karunanidhi has charged that the decision to divest 10 per cent equity in NLC amounted to 'diluting' the principles of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) agreed to by the constituent parties of the UPA.

"Views opposing the disinvestment of 10 per cent share in NLC cannot be ignored by the government," said Karunanidhi in his letter.

Seeking reconsideration of the decision, Karunanidhi said, "It may be construed that any deviation from the accepted CMP, whatever reasons we may give, would amount to diluting the already agreed principles."

When asked whether the DMK ministers in the Union Cabinet had articulated this view in the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting on Thursday, where the divestment was cleared, Karunanidhi said that the ministers were abroad.

"In any case, as chief minister of Tamil Nadu, I am registering my protest," he added.

The trade unions affiliated to the DMK and supporting parties have decided to join the strike called by NLC workers against the move on July 4.

On previous occasions, in fact, PMK leader and Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss had opposed the proposed divestment and had got the matter deferred.

Along with the Left parties, the opposition of the TN parties to the move is significant.