P Shanmugam
About 1,400 acres were acquired from farmers. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, states that any land left unused must be returned to the original owner, legal heirs, or transferred to the govt’s land bank. Because of concerns over environmental damage, the project was abandoned.
If the govt had announced the alternative site before dropping the current project, much of the confusion could have been avoided. Won’t the proposed industries face similar issues?
Initial reports were that it would be used for SIPCOT, but the industries minister now says it will be used for other industrial projects. No one disputes the need for a second airport in Chennai. CPM has demanded that the govt return the acquired land to the farmers of Parandur. What are the first three governance failures you would ask the TVK govt to correct?
On May 8, our state committee decided to extend external support to the TVK govt. The borrowings in the first quarter of the TVK govt stand at `20,881 crore despite unmet election promises. But the `1,200 crore new Assembly-Secretariat complex should’ve been debated in assembly. The next general election is in 2029, and the question of who should become PM will be decided then. We have decided to hold a public rally on Oct 15, where we will release a charter of demands.
TVK won the highest number of seats and was invited to form the govt. But they are implementing some schemes introduced during DMK’s tenure. Karnataka still hasn’t released the Supreme Court-ordered monthly water share to TN. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai Stay updated with the latest Chennai news.
CPM state secretary P Shanmugam says the party remains “firm” in its political decision to support the TVK govt. In an interview with Julie Mariappan, he also defends the fle dgling party, saying certain flaws are “inevitable during the training phase” and especially when there are political newcomers. Certain flaws are inevitable during this “training phase”.
Excerpts: Why did the CPM choose to support the TVK govt from outside instead of backing DMK or seeking fresh elections? No one got an absolute majority. If it failed to prove its majority, DMK would be invited to form the govt. DMK proposed that AIADMK form the govt with support from the DMK-led alliance. That was unacceptable to us as AIADMK remained allied with BJP. Also, a fresh election would have to be held under governor’s rule. Will the arrangement with TVK last for the full five-year term? We remain firm in the political decision we have made. But I cannot say whether the arrangement will last the full five-year term. That’ll depend on the govt’s approach, its economic policies, policing policies and attitude towards the working class. Our decision was made based on the political stance that BJP must not be allowed to gain power in Tamil Nadu. How do you assess the TVK govt’s performance so far, especially the conduct and contribution of ministers? TVK is barely two years old yet has emerged as the ruling party. Many of its members are political newcomers. As the ruling party, it will have a greater stake than anyone else in ensuring that the govt completes its full five-year term successfully. Many infrastructure projects initiated by the previous govt have either been scrapped or put on hold. TVK govt has alleged that there were shortcomings in some of those processes. There is a charge that dropping the Parandur airport project would take the state backwards. The Constitution guarantees people the right to engage in democratic protest. This cannot depend on the whims of the ruling party. Yet successive govts, whether DMK, AIADMK or TVK, have granted or denied permission as per their whims. The people’s democratic voice is not necessarily directed against the govt. It is a means of expressing their demands and views. Second, we are concerned about privatisation, which is being proposed in the budget across several sectors, including establishment of student hostels and thermal power plants. Third is the issue of outsourcing. Sanitation workers have been demanding that their jobs be made permanent. The govt must take direct responsibility for managing them. These issues cannot be seen as administrative failures; they are continuing the same policies followed by DMK. The real issue is what the borrowed money is used for. Free bus service expansion and addressing Tasmac workers’ demands are welcome. Has the state gone soft on the Cauvery and Mekedatu disputes? The Centre is staying silent. Karnataka’s CM has been visibly active on the issue. We have repeatedly urged the TVK govt to convene an all-party meeting and demonstrate that TN remains united on the issue, but it has not done so. This is a flawed approach. What about criticism that the state has not taken a more confrontational stance towards Centre on fiscal devolution? Whenever the Union govt acted unfairly in allocating funds, DMK and allies came together to organise protests. We were able to exert pressure on the Centre and ensure Tamil Nadu received its share. TVK govt must be vigilant and ensure allocation is neither inadequate nor discriminatory. Congress wants Rahul Gandhi to be PM; TVK wants Vijay. It does not need to be debated now. Both parties are unnecessarily creating a controversy. You recently stated that DMK and AIADMK could one day function as a single political force. Serious assessment or mere rhetoric? Could anyone have imagined that AIADMK and DMK — bitter political rivals for more than five decades — would discuss joining hands to retain power after failing to secure a majority? No one can guarantee that these parties capable of taking such an opportunistic position will not, at some point when they become further weakened, join hands to defeat a common adversary. It could happen and if it does, it should come as no surprise. Would you consider a renewed alliance with DMK in future elections? Our electoral alliances and political relationships are based on identifying forces that must be defeated in the forthcoming election. Our decisions are not based on whether the party is DMK, AIADMK or TVK. We have formed a coordination committee comprising CPM, CPI and CPI(ML) to take Left ideology to the people. Our future actions and protests will be centred on those demands. This is not an electoral alliance, but a platform for joint protests. What should the govt’s policy towards guest workers, sanitation workers and other vulnerable sections be? Guest workers are often subject to exploitation. There is also a wage disparity between workers from Tamil Nadu and those from states such as Odisha and West Bengal. Laws protecting guest workers exist, but what is required is strict enforcement. The services of sanitation workers must be made permanent, and legislation must be enacted to regulate the unorganised sector. trade unions say they’re not fully functional Although welfare boards for these workers were established by the previous govt. Download the TOI App.
Historically, despite political differences, all parties in Tamil Nadu have maintained a united stand on issues such as the Cauvery dispute and language.
How do you respond to the growing chorus for Vijay as the next Prime Minister?