BJP State President Hits Power Minister
State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) L. Ganesan said in Coimbatopre on Thursday that Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veeraswami should focus on utilising the abundant thorium reserves to meet the power demand in the State, rather than campaigning for the Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement. Mr. Ganesan told presspersons that the BJP was never against the agreement. It was only stating that the clauses in the agreement should not be binding on India. Even if the agreement came through, power generation would become possible only after 15 years.
But, Tamil Nadu was already reeling under frequent and long power cuts. Referring to Mr.Veeraswami’s statements, Mr. Ganesan alleged that uninterrupted power supply to six major manufacturing facilities had resulted in the people reeling under shortage. Windmill owners in the State were planning to shift operations to Gujarat or Karnataka, citing lack of patronage by the State government. On electoral alliance for the Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Ganesan said the BJP and almost all other parties had begun informal talks. There could also be a situation where the BJP might have to go it alone. When asked whether the BJP would align with parties formed recently, he said it would take time for the electoral alliance to take shape.
The Pattali Makkal Katchi had become weak after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam severed ties with it. Similarly, the Left parties had become weak after snapping ties with the Congress. Now, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was trying to weaken the PMK and the Left parties further. One should wait and watch whether the AIADMK succeeded. Reiterating that the State unit of the BJP wanted the Hogenakkal water scheme implemented, he said Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would have based his statements on inputs given by officials. Mr.Yeddyurappa’s statement in Chennai on Wednesday that Karnataka always wanted friendly ties with the neighbouring States was a good indication of an amicable solution, he said.
