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NT Bureau
Villupuram, Mar 21:

        PMK founder leader Dr Ramadoss today said that being an alliance partner of the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) does not mean that it should not speal out on vital issues.

        Addressing mediapersons today at his Thailapuram garden residence the PMK leader reiterated that there was no change in the party stance of support to the DMK. 'The PMK would support the government headed by Karunanidhi to enable it to be in office for five years,' Ramadoss said and lamented that some sections of the media continued to confuse people by publishing 'wrong' news reports.

        But being an ally does not mean that the party should not have an opinion on important matters. 'Especially, when something is being said or done, which is against the principles of the party, how can we keep quiet? the PMK leader wanted to know.

        The PMK had been against entrance examinations. This was the stance of the party during the rule of both the AIADMK and the DMK. 'Now we have succeeded in getting it scrapped,' he said and added that similar opposition to the proposal for satellite townships, special economic zones (SEZ) helped in an explicit undertaking from the Chief Minister that the government would not touch farm land for SEZs and not disturb residential areas for satellite townships.

        This has helped in prevention of a situation similar to that of Singur and Nandigram. 'Some sections of the media may try to attribute motives and try to fish in troubled waters , but the Chief Minister would be thanking me in his heart of hearts,' Ramadoss said and added that only because of the his party's opposition and subsequent assurance of Karunanidhi averted a Jalianwallahbagh in Tamilnadu.

        'What is the guarantee that such an incident would not have happened here? he asked. When the Chennai airport expansion was proposed the residents were against it and we supported it. We wanted a facility with international standards. The Chief Minister has given an assurance in this regard and we have succeeded in this also.'

        Similarly, the PMK had always stood for complete prohibition regardless of who ruled the State. 'The opposition to issues like these were on the basis of prinicples of the party. If rumours were spread that we are walking out of the coalition, is it just and fair ? Ramadoss posed and reiterated that their's was positive criticism. 'That is precisely why the Chief Minister has taken our opinion as Thailapuram's thailam — a balm, a pain reliever,' Ramadoss quipped.