Fulfilling the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's election promise, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Tuesday told the state assembly that his government would provide colour televisions to families not owning a set from September 15.

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Global tenders would be floated for the purchase of 14-inch colour TV sets and a committee of legislators formed to decide the tenders and to monitor the implementation of the scheme, which would be implemented in phases, he said.

Karunanidhi was replying to a debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the state assembly. All defamation cases filed by the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government against political parties and cases filed under the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act would be immediately withdrawn, he said.

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The previous government had filed 342 defamation cases and two cases under TESMA, he said, adding that 147 cases were filed against DMK, 87 against Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, 14 against Congress, seven against Pattali Makkal Katchi, three against Dalit Panthers of India and two each against the Communist Party of India, Bharatiya Janata Party and one against Janata Dal.

Nine cases had been filed against media personnel and media organisations. The cases against the employees of the state Civil Supplies Corporation would also be withdrawn. Orders withdrawing the cases would be issued on Tuesday, he said.

Over 13,000 public welfare workers, retrenched by the AIADMK government, would be reinstated and their salary would be hiked by Rs 200, Karunanidhi added.