Reservation Row: Karunanidhi Refutes Jayalalithaa's claims

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravadian Patriarch M Karunanidhi have said social justice was the bedrock of the Dravidian movement. As soon as he assumed Chief Ministership in 1969, he only formed the Backward Classes Commission under the Chaimanship of A. N. Sattanathan and implemented its recommendations, Karunanidhi said.

Joining issue with AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa over upholding social justice in the State, Mr Karunanidhi recalling various measures taken by DMK governments.

The government issued an order on June 7 that year increasing the quota for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) from 16 per cent to 18 per cent. Similarly, the quota for Backward Classes was increased from 25 per cent to 31 per cent, Karunanidhi said and added the AIADMK government subsequently fixed income ceiling for Backward Classes to get the benefits of reservation. “But, after its defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, the AIADMK government in 1980 increased the reservation for Backward Classes from 31 per cent to 50 per cent.”

When he returned to power in 1989, Mr. Karunanidhi said that he held discussions with PMK leader S. Ramadoss and introduced 20 per cent reservation for Most Backward Classes within the 50 per cent reservation for BCs. Besides, 1 per cent exclusive quota for STs was introduced in June 1990.

Detailing the efforts he took to implement the Mandal Commission recommendations by negotiating with the then Prime Minister V.P. Singh and Deputy Prime Minister Devilal, Mr. Karunanidhi said he proposed a special resolution in the State legislature seeking immediate implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations in May 1989 followed by a social justice conference in May 1990 at Thanjavur.

Withdraw cases against journalist-Jaya

In the meantime, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa has demanded withdrawal of all cases against ‘Dina Bhoomi' editor S. Manimaran and his son M. Ramesh Kumar.

In a statement here on Saturday, she said though they had been released on bail in the wake of strong resentment, there were reports that the police were planning to file new cases against them as they had exposed illegal granite quarrying. “When a petition in connection with granite quarrying is pending before the Madras High Court, the government arrested the journalists and is planning to file more cases against them. It is the height of repression,” she said.

- Asian Tribune -