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Jaya's comments on Planning body reflects DMK's stand: Karuna

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Press Trust of India Chennai

However, he said Jayalalithaa's views about the Planning Commission reflected his own party's opinion about it, even as he said that it was usual of her to criticise the Centre during her Delhi visits.

Writing in party mouthpiece Murasoli, Karunanidhi referred to Jayalalithaa's statement on Monday that the meeting was an excercise which "appeared to mean her state being told how to spend its own money."

"Her opinions are that of DMK; what we had told the Planning Commission when we were in power," he said.

Referring to a chapter concerning Planning Commission from a book written by DMK veteran and later Union Minister "Murasoli" Maran, he recalled that it said the commission was responsible for friction in Centre-state relations and that it was ruling the states with its massive funds.

 

Karunanidhi said it was not proper on Jayalalithaa's part to lament that of the plan outlay of Rs 28,000 crore only Rs 3,000 crore was the Centre's share, saying "how is it possible for the Centre to allocate the entire state plan."

He said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had said that the meeting was convened not just to discuss allocation but to advice the states on the ways and means to spend the money for growth.

"Planning Commission meeting and Chief Minister's address in it are annual affairs. If the state government demands ten (a rough number which he did not elaborate), the Commission will sanction only six after consultations and this is the procedure.

She has only used the occasion to express her "hatred against the Centre. She has sung chorus to DMK's (stand on) regional autonomy," he said referring to the party's long-time demand.

  

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First Published: Jun 06 2012 | 9:05 PM IST

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