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Kumaramangalam dares Karunanidhi to quit

Union Power Minister Rangarajan Kumaramangalam today challenged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to quit office and tender a public apology if the Supreme Court upheld the Centre's notification re-transferring corruption cases against AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha from special courts to session courts.

Addressing a press conference, he denied Karunanidhi's charge that the BJP-led government at the Centre was trying to bail out Jayalalitha to stay in power.

Kumaramangalam took exception to Karunanidhi's reported allegation that the BJP-led government's inefficiency was one of the reasons for the recent hike in the prices of essential communities. Karunanidhi had no right to speak about inefficiency because even nine days after the murder of BJP functionary Dr Sridhar, no arrest had been made so far.

He said though the BJP assumed office at the Centre only about nine months ago, due to various measures, the country's growth was 5.8 per cent during the current financial year as against only 5 per cent in 1997-1998.

Referring to the power sector, he said during the previous United Front regime, there was a proposal to generate 30,000 MW of power in the eighth plan. But they were able to generate only 16,000 mw. If the target had been reached, there would be no power shortage now, he claimed.

UNI

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