Chennai, 06 July (H.S.):The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) on Monday reaffirmed its support for the C. Joseph Vijay-led government, vowed to intensify its opposition to Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project and announced a statewide anti-corruption campaign during its state executive committee meeting in Chennai.
The meeting, chaired by newly appointed TNCC president and MP B. Manickam Tagore at Satyamurthy Bhavan, adopted seven resolutions focusing on governance, organisational strengthening, the Cauvery dispute, fuel prices and national issues.
The executive committee endorsed the Congress party's decision to support the formation of the TVK-led government after the Assembly election, stating that the move was aimed at preventing what it described as attempts by the BJP to install a government through the Governor. It also congratulated Tourism Minister S. Rajeshkumar and Higher Education Minister P. Viswanathan on joining the Vijay-led Cabinet.
As part of its organisational agenda, the TNCC decided to celebrate former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj's birth anniversary on July 15 with week-long programmes across the state. District and grassroots units have been directed to organise welfare activities, hoist party flags and pay floral tributes to the Congress stalwart.
The party also announced an anti-corruption campaign under the slogan Nenjam Nimir, Lancham Thavir (Stand Tall with Self-respect, Avoid Bribery) and resolved to strengthen its grassroots network by reorganising local committees and establishing Mandal Congress Committees covering every five polling booths.
On national issues, the TNCC demanded a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team probe into the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and sought to bring the temple administration under the ambit of the Right to Information Act.
The executive committee also criticised the Union government over fuel pricing, alleging that consumers were denied the benefit of falling global crude oil prices.
Reiterating its stand on the Cauvery dispute, the TNCC strongly opposed Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam, saying the project violated existing legal safeguards for Tamil Nadu's water rights. The party pledged to launch statewide agitations to protect the interests of Cauvery delta farmers and insisted that not even a single brick should be laid for the project without Tamil Nadu's consent.
Senior Congress leaders, including former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, MPs, former TNCC presidents and AICC office-bearers, attended the meeting.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
