Petrol price hike: Karunanidhi issues veiled threat to Centre

CHENNAI, May 30, 2012

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi, a constituent of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, issued a veiled threat to the Centre, saying that his party would not compromise on its core principles and in the past it had walked out of coalition to uphold its principles.



Addressing a demonstration organised by his party against the hike in the price of petrol, Mr. Karunanidhi said though the DMK was part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, the party had to ensure that "any decision that would cause pain to the people" was avoided.



He said the DMK had certain principles and policies and would not compromise on its core ideology, pointing out that it had always stood for its principles, even when his party was part of the National Front government led by V.P. Singh and and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.



"Whenever its core ideology is under threat we will urge the Centre to right the wrong. When our pleas were not heeded, we had chosen to walk out," he said amidst raising of slogans by partymen against the Congress.



They were heard shouting "come out of Congress alliance." Mr. Karunanidhi made a pause for a few seconds till the crowd vent its anger on the Congress, before resuming his speech.



He said it was the responsibility of the Centre to ensure that the DMK was allowed to retain its core principles.



Recalling the reported remarks of Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony against petrol price, Mr. Karunanidhi said even if the Prime Minister had disregarded the views of alliance partners like him, he could not afford to ignore the voice of his Cabinet colleague.



Urging the Centre to roll back the hike in the petrol price and the State government to bring down the increase in milk price, electricity tariff and bus fare, he threatened to launch a series of agitations if his demand was not met with positive response.
News From: http://www.7StarNews.com