DMK threatens to pull out of UPA govt

CHENNAI: The DMK on Thursday threatened to pull out of the ruling UPA coalition if the government goes ahead with the disinvestment of 10 per cent of its equity in Neyveli Lignite Corporation, a move seen as an effort to take the wind out of AIADMK's attack that it was party to the decision.

"When the Union Government is not in a position to accept the demand of the workers, the DMK is thinking whether to continue in the Union Government and be a party to the decision,"  DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi told reporters here.

"I have instructed our (DMK) Union Ministers to inform this stand to the Prime Minister,' he said.

Jayalalithaa has been embarrassing the DMK by questioning its stand on the NLC disinvestment issue and alleged that Karunanidhi was adopting double standards.

 Claiming that the DMK ministers at the Centre had supported the move at the cabinet meeting, which took the decision, she accused Karunanidhi of shedding crocodile tears.

All the trade unions, irrespective of their party affiliations, are participating in the indefinite strike of NLC workers.

The DMK-led Labour Progressive Front is in the forefront of the agitation, as it was the only recognised union in the NLC.

DMK, which has 16 MPs, heads the Democratic Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu. PMK, the other constituent, has six MPs. Congress is also part of the DPA in Tamil Nadu.