Jaya's comments on Planning body reflects DMK's stand: Karuna

Chennai: DMK president M Karunanidhi today charged Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with trying to use her recent meeting with the Planning Commission to express her ‘hatred’ and level allegations againt ruling UPA coalition. However, he said Jayalalithaa’s views about the Planning Commission reflected his own party’s opinion about it, even as he said that it was usual of her to criticise Centre during her Delhi visits. [caption id=“attachment_334702” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Karunanidhi said it was not proper on Jayalalithaa’s part to lament that of the plan outlay of Rs 28,000 crore only Rs 3000 crore was centre’s share.”]  [/caption] Writing in party mouthpiece Murasoli, Karunanidhi referred to Jayalalithaa’s statement on Monday that the meeting was an excercise which “appeared to mean her state being told how to spend its own money.” “Her opinions are that of DMK; what we had told the Planning Commission when we were in power,” he said. Referring to a chapter concerning Planning Commission from a book written by DMK veteran and later Union Minister ‘Murasoli’ Maran, he recalled that it said the commission was responsible for friction in Centre-state relations and that it was ruling the states with its massive funds. Karunanidhi said it was not proper on Jayalalithaa’s part to lament that of the plan outlay of Rs 28,000 crore only Rs 3000 crore was centre’s share, saying “how is it possible for the Centre to allocate the entire state plan.” He said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had said that the meeting was convened not just to discuss allocation but to advice the states on the ways and means to spend the money for growth. “Planning Commission meeting and Chief Minister’s address in it are annual affairs. If the state government demands ten (a rough number which he did not elaborate) Commission will sanction only six after consultations and this is the procedure. She has only used the occasion to express her “hatred against Centre. She has sung chorus to DMK’s (stand on) regional autononmy,” he said referring to the party’s long-time demand. PTI