DMK comes to rescue once again

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Every time the DMK flexes its muscles against the UPA government to rev­erse any “anti-people” decision, it had invariably tak­en a U-turn at the last mo­m­ent in the name of rescuing the Central government, generally citing threat fr­om communal forces.

Following the governm­ent’s decision to annou­nce a new round of refo­rms, including FDI in retail, DMK president M. Karuna­nidhi said his party would support the opposition if it moved a resolution in Parl­iament against FDI.

He ma­de this statement on Octo­ber 1 after the party’s high-level executive committee meeting. Karunanidhi ton­ed down his stand after meeting fi­na­nce minister P. Chid­am­baram.

The DMK’s decision to back the UPA on FDI in the retail sector came a day after his party’s parliamentary leader T.R. Baalu gave notice in the Lok Sabha for a discussion on the CAG report regarding 2G scam.

However, a senior DMK leader denied any backroom deal in supporting the UPA on the FDI issue.

“Our leader has been consistently saying that the party is supporting the Co­ngress-led government on­ly to keep the communal BJP at bay.

Since the state government is not forced to allow FDI in the retail sector, we are supporting the Centre,” he reasoned.

A Left party leader said the DMK chief had once again put his party’s interest above national interest. “One cannot forget DMK’s volte face in voting in support of the 13-month-old BJP government in the Centre in 1999.

Karun­an­idhi then justified his par­ty’s decision saying Jayala­lithaa’s corruption was mo­re dangerous than communalism. Now, he is justifying his support for the UPA by citing the thr­eat from communal forces,” he said.