MK blames Centre for Koodankulam crisis

SANKARANKOIL: DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi on Thursday declared that he would even go to the extent of immolating himself  if the ruling AIADMK Government was bent upon shifting the Anna Centenary Library .“If the AIADMK Government sticks to its stand on shifting the Anna Centenary Library, I won’t hesitate to sacrifice my life,” said Karunanidhi, while addressing a public meeting here in support of his party candidate Jawahar Suryakumar.“Nobody can prevent me,” Karunanidhi continued, adding that he was, however, doubtful as to how many would follow suit.“The DMK has been following in the footsteps of Periyar and Anna and hasn’t drifted from its policies,” he said. Blaming the Centre for the power crisis in the State, he said that though there was a possibility of generating 1,000 MW of power from the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant. However, the plant has not been commissioned.Karunanidhi also recalled the welfare measures initiated during the DMK regime. “We waived farm loans amounting to Rs 7000 crore and took steps to interlink Tamarabarani, Karumaniyaru and Nambiar rivers at a cost of Rs 369 crore to help farmers,” he said, adding that they had introduced various schemes to promote the Self Help Groups (SHG).Union Minister and South Zone Organizing Secretary of the DMK M K Alagiri, chaired the meeting. DPI leader Thol Thirumavalavan, former Congress Minister Dhanuskodi Adithyan and senior leaders of the Democratic Progressive Alliance participated in the meeting.