Dr.Swamy's press release dt. March 30, 2004

1. The Janata – New Justice Party coalition is a forerunner of the Third Front in the 2006 Assembly Elections in the State. As of now, the JP-NJP front is contesting 26 seats of Lok Sabha in the State.

2. Such a Third Front formation is essential because the two Dravidian Movement formations have failed to ensure for Tamil Nadu, economic development, social justice, and provide nationally credible leadership. The Dravidian Movement off shoots, i.e., DMK, ADMK, etc. do not, and never have had an economic programme, but both have contributed to ruining the economic of the State.

3. a) According to the 2001 Census, there are 6.21 crores people in the state, which population grew during 1991-2001 period at 11.2% only, compared to the all India population growth of 21.3%. What reward did the Tamil people get for this sustained effort to contain the growth of population? On the contrary, the Dravidian leadership watched helplessly while the per capita transfer of Central funds to the State by the Finance Commission has been reduced every five years! This shows how ineffective the Dravidian Movement leaders have been in Delhi in getting the State its due share of resources.

b) In 2001, despite a high level of literacy in the State, 15 million people, or about 21.1.% of the state population, were living below the line of poverty. At the sametime, unemployment, under-employment, and disguised unemployment constitutes 14.4 per cent of the labour force (next only to Bihar), with 56 lakh applicants on the live-register of the Employment Exchanges, of which 70% are educated applicants, while 34% are women.

c) Although the state’s agricultural sector contributed only 17.2% of the State Income, the number of people in employment in agriculture is 49.1% of the labour force. This distortion is lowering wages of agricultural workers and causing exploitation. Alternative employment sources have not been created by the successive Dravidian governments for people in rural areas.

d) The State finances are in a complete mess. Last May, the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) in its annual report has criticized the state for its “financial profligacy” since 1997. The gross fiscal deficit (GFD), which gives the extent of borrowing by the Government to finance its expenditure, is running at an all time high of Rs.7000 crores. Since 1996, the GFD has been growing a record 43.5% per year, which is a world record.

e) Salary and pension takes away a whopping 94% of the State’s own revenues. Hence the State has curtailed its capital expenditure to meet its current expenses and hence set back development projects. But this cannot go on for long. It will land the State in a dept-trap soon. At this rate of depletion of resources, the State Government will become bankrupt by 2007 and will have to default in payment of its salary and pensions of its own employees.

f) The Dravidian parties have failed to implement Sethu Samudram project. After failing on Cauvery and Mulla Periyar disputes, these parties have made no effort to find alternative sources for water.

4. Hence unseating the Dravidian parties from office is vital for saving the State from further decline, and to put it on the path of growth, social justice and national self-respect.

5. The debate on Ms.Sonia Gandhi’s citizenship, as also of her son Rahul and of Priyanka Vadra, is justified as the issue has not been settled.

Ms.Sonia Gandhi is a second-class citizen in the eyes of Indian Laws, because her citizenship can be cancelled under certain circumstance specified under Section 10 of the Citizenship Act (1955).

A India born citizen cannot be deprived of his citizenship under any circumstances. It is unalienable.

Rahul and Priyanka acquired Italian citizenship in 1992 after an amendment in the Italian Law passed in 1992. The two had accompanied their mother to Italy to register as Italian citizens.

(SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY)