BJP demands white paper on extremists' activities

CHENNAI: Alleging that activities of extremists had increased in Tamil Nadu after the DMK Government took over last year, the state unit of the BJP on Friday demanded a white paper on the issue.

There were reports that arms training camps had been set up by Naxalites in Theni district and students were joining the movement. Strong measures should be taken against extremist activities, state unit General Secretary H Raja told reporters here.

He claimed Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had lost control over his government as well as his party, since he himself had said that his directions were not followed while conducing the co-operative elections.
    
The cancellation of co-operative elections was due to opposition from alliance parties like the PMK and CPI-M and was not out of Karunanidhi's concern for democracy, he said.

He appealed to the government to release Cauvery water from Mettur Dam immediately, instead of July 25, so that farmers could start Kuruvai paddy crop cultivation.

If water was released on July 25, farmers could not raise Kuruvai crops, since they would be affected by monsoon rains in October. Immediate release of water would help them cultivate and harvest the crops earlier, he said.