DMK to support UPA govt on FDI issue with 'bitterness'

Decision to prevent 'communal' forces from coming to power, says Karunanidhi

Breaking its silence, DMK today decided to support the UPA government in Parliament on FDI in retail sector issue in order to prevent "communal" forces coming to power.

"When this discussion comes in the Parliament, though there may be thousands of differences (between the UPA and the DMK on the issue), thinking about the unfavourable incidents that may emerge if this government falls at the Centre, it has been decided to support the UPA with bitterness", DMK Chief M Karunanidhi said in a three-page statement here.

The DMK backing to the contentious issue comes as a huge relief to the Manmohan Singh government, which is trying to muster support from various political parties.

Karunanidhi said one cannot refuse that the UPA government may fall at the Centre if voting on the FDI in retail sector issue takes place in Parliament under rule 184.

Considering all these things and supposing if a dangerous situation arises to the UPA in Parliament, "communal forces" like BJP and other like minded parties may benefit out of it, he said.

"The UPA government has to continue at the Centre under these compelling circumstances", he said.

Noting the Centre's assurance that it would not thrust any state government to implement FDI in retail sector, Karunanidhi said it has been assured that the life of the farmers and small retailers would not be affected in Tamil Nadu.

"In a democratic country when there is a party that was chosen by the people to run the government, only if it continues to run without any disruption, public peace and economic development will occur enhancing the life of the common man", Karunanidhi said.