People's Democracy

TAMILNADU NEWSLETTER

Punish land grabbers irrespective

Of political affiliation: CPI (M)

 S P Rajendran

PERSONS involved in land grabbing must be punished irrespective of their political affiliations and this has always been the stand of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Party state secretary G Ramakrishnan said in an interview at Coimbatore on August 11

On the charges by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) that complaints against All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) functionaries ended in compromise and only DMK men were targeted, he said “whoever is involved should be punished no matter which party they belonged to.” The highest number of land grab cases, however, had taken place over the last five years.

On the DMK moving the High Court, seeking to quash the government order for the formation of police special cells to deal with the land grabbing cases, Ramakrishnan said that the DMK in its general council at Coimbatore last month passed a resolution stating that land grabbers, even if they were DMK men, could be legally dealt with but such complaints should not be used against DMK for political vendetta.

The special cell would only file a case and it was only the special courts (recently announced by the government) that would deal with these cases, Ramakrishnan said. The DMK leadership should explain why it moved the court seeking to quash the GO. He wanted to know whether the DMK was of the opinion that there was no land grab during its five-year rule or if it was trying to protect its men involved in these cases, contrary to its resolution at the general council.

With regard to the Siruthavur land grab case, Ramakrishnan said “the CPI (M) had always been firm that the lands should be restored to rightful owners, even when the Justice P Sivasubramanian commission recommended for restoring the lands and handing it over to some other beneficiaries.”  Ramakrishnan also wanted to know from Karunanidhi why he failed to take action on the issue during his tenure as chief minister and also on why he did not take action on the commission report for nearly two years.

 CPI (M) FOR AUTONOMY

TO SRI LANKAN TAMILS

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) called for specific measures for “the devolution of autonomy to the Tamil-speaking areas” of Sri Lanka at a massive demonstration in Chennai on August 9.

“Though two years have passed since the end of armed conflict in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government has not taken any worthwhile steps to reach a political settlement on the Tamil question,” G Ramakrishnan charged while addressing the protest.

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa had promised a political settlement after the war, but no progress had been made and now the defence minister of Sri Lanka and brother of the president, Gothabaya Rajabakshe commented against the devolution demand.

“It is essential that specific measures are taken for the devolution of autonomy to the Tamil-speaking areas of northern and eastern regions so that the Tamil people can live a life of dignity and as equal citizens within a united Sri Lanka,” he said.

He also called for stepping up of efforts to rehabilitate those displaced during the conflict and a high-level enquiry into the allegations of atrocities and human rights violations by the armed forces.

Earlier he and A Soundararajan, Legislative leader of the Party inaugurated a signature campaign on the issue. Maduravoyal MLA K Bhim Rao, former MLA S K Mahendran, South and North Chennai district secretaries A Backiyam and T K Shanmugam also spoke. The protest had taken place across the state including Maduai and  Coimbatore.

FIGHT AGAINST

CORRUPTION 

On the eve of the 65th Independence Day, CPI (M) state committee organised an anti-corruption movement in front of Gandhi statue at the Marina Beach of Chennai.

N Sankaraiah, veteran leader and the chairman of the Central Control Commission of the Party presided over and read out an oath against corruption and for purity in public life. Party state secretary G Ramakrishnan, Central Committee members T K Rangarajan MP, U Vasuki, Legislative Party  leader A Soundararajan, P R Natarajan MP, Party MLAs  district leaders and hundreds of people participated and took oath.

While addressing the gathering, N Sankaraiah called for a stronger Lokpal bill and criticised the UPA government for destroying the nation with the cancer of corruption in all spheres.

CORRUPTION IN

PUDHUCHERRY 

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had appealed to the Central Bureau of Investigation to widen the scope of probe into irregularities in the construction of houses for tsunami-affected people in Puducherry.

Addressing a joint press conference on August 9 in Pudhucherry, Tamilnadu state committee member of the P arty T Murugan and secretary of the Pradesh committee of the CPI (M) V Perumal said the irregularities should be investigated completely. The role of chief minister N Rangasamy, under whose earlier tenure the tsunami rehabilitation process started, and former chief minister V Vaithilingam and ministers should also be investigated, they said.

While seeking the removal of collector G Ragesh Chandra, against whom the CBI is conducting an investigation, Perumal said one official alone cannot be held accountable for the irregularities. Pointing out that the project implementation agency was governed by a seven-member committee, Murugan said all decisions were taken by the committee and the collector was only a member.

The committee headed by chief secretary takes decisions on the works to be undertaken for tsunami rehabilitation, he said, adding that such decisions are implemented with the approval of government. The investigation should not be limited to a few officials, he added.

Urging the government to issue a white paper on the amount of money received by the territorial administration from union government and other agencies, he said the Party from the beginning had been complaining of misuse of funds earmarked for tsunami rehabilitation.

Murugan said the Party would stage a demonstration  in front of the Raj Nivas if Lt Governor Iqbal Singh decided to give his customary address in the assembly on August 18.