DMK to back UPA on FDI issue with 'bitterness'

Breaking its silence, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Tuesday decided to support with "bitterness" the United Progressive Alliance government in Parliament on Foreign Direct Investment in the retail sector issue in order to prevent "communal" forces coming to power.

"When this discussion comes up in the Parliament, though there may be thousands of differences (between the UPA and the DMK on the issue), thinking about the unfavourable incidents that may emerge if this government falls at the Centre, it has been decided to support the UPA with bitterness," DMK chief M Karunanidhi said in a three-page statement in Chennai.

The DMK backing to the contentious issue comes as a huge relief to the Manmohan Singh government, which is trying to muster support from various political parties.

Noting that if voting on the FDI in retail sector issue takes place in Parliament under rule 184, Karunanidhi said one cannot refuse that the UPA government may fall at the Centre.

Considering all these things and if suppose a dangerous situation arises to the UPA in Parliament, "communal forces" like the Bharatiya Janata Party and other like minded parties may benefit out of it, he said.

"The UPA government has to continue at the Centre under these compelling circumstances," he said.

Noting that the Centre's assurance that it would not thrust any state government to implement FDI in retail sector, Karunanidhi said it has been assured that the life of the farmers and small retailers would not be affected in Tamil Nadu.