PMK founder S Ramadoss alleged that DMK "has copied 42 schemes," proposed in a draft manifesto released in September last. (File photo)
PMK today alleged that DMK had "copied" its election manifesto, charging the Karunanidhi-led party with "literally lifting" many provisions from an earlier draft released last year.
Releasing his party's manifesto for the May 16 Assembly polls, PMK founder S Ramadoss alleged that DMK "has copied 42 schemes," proposed in a draft manifesto released in September last.
"The DMK has copied 42 schemes, literally lifting them from our draft manifesto. This includes implementation of Prohibition, establishing Lok Ayukta, Right to Service Act and appointing a panel to the Chief Minister to advise on economic affairs," he told reporters in Chennai.
To buttress his claim, he mentioned the page numbers of the schemes in PMK's draft manifesto and DMK's manifesto released recently.
Waiver of cooperative farm loans, encouraging nature farming, setting up of cold storage facilities in all the 32 districts, establishing a Coconut Industrial Park at Pollachi in Coimbatore district and constituting a panel to devise CBSE-like school curriculum and live coverage of Assembly proceedings were other schemes "literally lifted" by DMK from PMK's draft manifesto, he alleged.
He asked if DMK was really serious about these issues, they could have done it earlier considering "he (Karunanidhi) had been Chief Minister five times."
Mr Ramadoss' son and party's chief ministerial candidate Anbumani sarcastically remarked that the first part of the manifesto (the draft), was released last year "the second one in Anna Arivalayam (DMK headquarters) last week and the final one today."
DMK had released its party manifesto for the May 16 Assembly elections on April 10.
Assuring his party's main promise of bringing in a dry law if voted to power, Mr Anbumani reiterated that his first order as Chief Minister would be to implement prohibition.
He attacked DMK treasurer MK Stalin on the matter, saying he had gone back on his word of "first day first signature" to implement prohibition if Stalin became Chief Minister as DMK had now proposed a legislation.
"What is the need for a legislation when it can be done by way of an executive order? This is a ploy to postpone the dry law," he alleged.
He also slammed AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for promising to implement prohibition in a phased manner if re-elected to power, saying her ministers were till last month insisting that dry law was not at all possible in the state.
"But she has changed her mind. Jayalalithaa knows the sentiments of the people," he said while criticising the ruling party for not implementing prohibition so far.
In its manifesto, PMK promised a series of 'pro-people' measures in different sectors.
These include providing computer tablets to school-going children with an 'e-bag' software to reduce the number of books they carry to school.
Free medical treatment, government subsidised health insurance scheme, provision of one litre free milk to lactating mothers till their child turns one, separate agriculture budget, not allowing GM crops were the other promises it made.
To prevent corruption, a Lok Ayukta would be established and chief ministers and his colleagues would be brought under it, the party said and assured to bring in Right to Public Service Act.
The property details of chief minister and his colleagues would be released every January and put up for "people's audit," the party promised.
It also assured to make Tiruchirappalli the second capital of the state and promised a series of reforms in power, administration and other sectors.
PMK assured steps to 'retrieve' Katchatheevu islet, ceded by India to Sri Lanka in the 1970s, and promised to double the dole given to fishermen during the fishing ban period.
Under the 'Journalists Welfare' column, the manifesto said an allocation of three per cent will be made towards Journalists' Welfare Fund from government advertisements.
"Steps (will be taken) for getting the minimum wage structure recommended by Majithia Wageboard (for Journalists and non-journalists,)" it said.
A separate 'Secretariat City' will be set up in the city suburbs and it will house government departments, state Assembly and quarters for ministers and legislators.
It will also have malls, play areas and educational institutions and will function as an 'Integrated City,' it said.