Uniform ST: Congress blames Janakiraman

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, JULY 13. The Pondicherry Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr. V. Narayanaswamy, today charged the DMK Legislature Party leader, Mr. R. V. Janakiraman, with having betrayed the Union Territory during his tenure as Chief Minister, by accepting the NDA Government's proposal for imposition of uniform sales tax.

Addressing presspersons here, he said Mr. Janakiraman did not attend the Chief Ministers and Finance Ministers meeting held in 1999 to discuss the issue. In his speech, which was read out, Mr. Janakiraman said the Pondicherry Government did not have any objection to the new pattern of sales tax.

Mr. Janakiraman should have accepted the Centre's proposal to avoid earning the displeasure of the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi. However, he was now blaming the Congress-led Government here.

Mr. Narayanaswamy said he would lead a Congres delegation to New Delhi on July 17 to persuade the Union Finance Minister not to impose the uniform floor rate here. The Chief Minister, Mr. P. Shanmugham, had already initiated steps to resist the move. The issue was apolitical and hence all sections, industrialists, merchants, and political parties should unite against the Centre's move.

Mr. Narayanaswamy also wanted to know what the DMK Ministers in the Vajpayee Government, Mr. Murasoli Maran, and Mr. T. R. Baalu, were doing to resist the imposition of uniform sales tax that would be detrimental to Pondicherry. Mr. Janakiraman, who had been criticising the Congress-led Ministry, was trying to divert the people's attention from the blunders committed by the DMK when it was in power.

Expressing concern over the frequent fire accidents in Pondicherry and Karaikal, Mr.Narayanaswamy said people were living in constant fear. He suspected the hand of some miscreants. The Government should identify these `anti-social' elements and take stern action against them.

Mr. Narayanasamy said the PMK quit the AIADMK-led secular front in Tamil Nadu because the party leader, Dr. S. Ramadoss's efforts to get Rajya Sabha ticket for his son failed.

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