Kancheepuram

Feb 16 2002

Sixty students of a girls high school at Walajabad in the were rushed to the govt hospital when they complained of illness after consuming iron tablets given as part of a health scheme.

However, on examination, all of them were found to be in good health and sent back, hospital sources said.

Over 300 students in Coimbatore, Kancheepuram and Salem were rushed to hospitals with complaints of nausea and giddiness after they consumed the iron tablets, but most of them were treated as outpatients. (Agencies news)

TMC to continue poll boycott

Coimbatore

Feb 16 2002

The Tamil Maanila Congress is firm in its stand on boycotting the Andipatti by-election and there was no question of reconsidering it, party president G K Vasan said.

Asked for his response to the reported appeal made by DMK chief M Karunanidhi to reconsider the boycott issue, in order to defeat AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, Vasan told reporters that the four parties had already taken a decision in this regard and “it continues and the TMC is very clear”.

Asked whether the stand would continue in two other Assembly constituencies ie Saidapet and Vaniyambadi - he said all parties would sit and discuss once the election process was announced.

When asked about the alleged misuse of official machinery in Andipatti, Vasan said, “We hope the Election Commission will do its duty and the needful.”

Regarding statements issued by TNCC president E V K S Elangovan on merger of both parties, the TMC leader said, “We are clear. There is nothing to elaborate. We are maintaining good relationship with the TNCC and also the AICC.”

On the present AIADMK rule, Vasan said considering the interests and welfare of the people, the party had already informed the government that people were not happy with the price hike and other issues and to reconsider its policies. (Agencies news)

Jaya befooling people, says M.karunanidhi

Andipatti

Feb 16 2002

DMK president M Karunanidhi today charged AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa with "befooling" the people by seeking their votes to enable her become the Chief Minister "while she is functioning as defacto Chief Minister."

Launching his campaign for the Feb 21 by-election to the Andipatti constituency, from where Jayalalithaa is seeking to enter the Assembly, he said she was already provided security and status given to a Chief Minister.

Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was only implementing her orders, he alleged adding that the security provided to her was normally given to a Chief Minister.

"Where is the need for a new chief minister? We already have O Panneerselvam," he said.

Accusing the AIADMK supremo of making false promises, Karunanidhi said while Jayalalithaa told the Andipatti electorate that the free supply of power to farmers would not be discontinued, the state Electricity Board was going ahead with fixing meters for agricultural pump sets.

If her promise was true, why should the board fix the meters? he asked.

He said the AIADMK govt did not keep up the party's poll promises made during the last Assembly elections. It had hiked the bus fares, power tarrif and the price of milk. Even the issue price of rice, supplied through PDS, was hiked but had been kept under suspension with an eye on the electorate of Andipatti, he said.

Instead of generating employment opportunities, the AIADMK Government had terminated the services of 13,000 public welfare officers, Karunanidhi said.

The former Chief Minister said he was not against Jayalalithaa's election from Andipatti but was only appealing to the voters to give a chance to "the son of the soil" Vaigai Sekar, to protest against the "misdeeds" of the AIADMK government in the Assembly. (Agencies news)