Stalin ready to take responsibilities

New Delhi, July 4: M K Stalin, considered a successor to DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, today indicated he would shoulder responsibilities when his father feels they are a burden.

"He (Karunanidhi) has not felt it is a burden on him. When he worries that it is a burden (on him), I will answer your question," said Stalin, who was visiting here for the first time after becoming a state minister.

Stalin, the minister for rural development and local administration, said his father had not said so far that the responsibilities were a burden on him.

The importance given to him by Union ministers and party MPs and leaders was visible in Stalin's press conference, when he was asked whether he would shoulder his father's burden.

He parried a question on how he would grade the performance of his party's ministers at the Centre.

During his day-long stay here, Stalin called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and several Central Ministers and discussed ongoing developmental projects.

Stalin said he drew the Prime Minister's attention to the successful implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in 10 districts of Tamil Nadu. Noting that the scheme needs to be implemented in several other districts, he said he told the Prime Minister it would be desirable for the Centre to consult states before selecting districts for the programme.

The Prime Minister and Gandhi thanked Karunanidhi for successfully organising a women's rally in support of UPA-Left presidential nominee Pratibha Patil and the massive victory of the Congress candidate in the by-poll to Madurai West assembly constituency.

To a question on implementing the DMK's poll promises like free distribution of colour TV sets and providing cheap rice to people, Stalin said 90 to 95 per cent of these promises had been implemented.

Thirty lakh TV sets were distributed in the first phase and another 25 lakh sets are being provided in the second phase. Tenders were being floated for another 30 lakh sets, he said.

Referring to the drinking water project for Chennai, he said a detailed report is being prepared for the Rs 1,000- crore desalination scheme and a 100-MLD project would start functioning from March next year. Tamil Nadu is getting five TMCFT of waters from the Krishna river from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, he said.

Stalin also charged the previous AIADMK government for not taking any initiative on the desalination project.