Chennai: Five time Lok Sabha MP and former Union minister and prominent spokesman for the controversy ridden Sethu shipping canal project, Thalikottai Rajuthevar Baalu alias T.R. Baalu has dared to lead an agitation if the next Union government does not drop the infamous methane extraction project.
Seeking re-election to the 16th Lok Sabha from Thanjavur, the face of DMK in New Delhi, talks about his sensational shift to Thanjavur, opposition to the methane project and promises made to voters in this freewheeling interview to Deccan Chronicle in which he calls himself a ‘humble farmer’.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q)Why did you shift from Sriperumbudur to Thanjavur?
A)Thanjavur is my birthplace. I was born in a village near Mannargudi. I have done a great deal for the state capital as Madras district DMK secretary and Sriperumbudur MP. It is time to do something for my native place. I have already brought several Central schemes, particularly railways projects, to Thanjavur. I want to complete them in the next tenure.
But dissent was reported in Thanjavur DMK over the leadership choosing you for local district secretary S.S. Palanimanickam
Palanimanickam is travelling with me. He will attend the fifth campaign meeting on Wednesday, campaigning for me. There is absolutely no dissent. Cadres are accompanying me in several hundreds for the hectic poll campaign which starts at 6 am and ends at 10 pm followed by a two-hour strategy meet with key functionaries.
Q)Is the methane extraction project a serious issue in Thanjavur?
A) The opposition parties have squarely blamed DMK for approving the project in its 2006-11 regime. I am sorry to say that I am neither a novice nor foolhardy. The opposition does not have any issue, and hence, it behaves childishly. Our (DMK) government signed an MoU only for studying methane availability. A state will naturally say ‘yes’ when the Centre wants to explore. We have opposed this then and now (in our manifesto). I will lead an agitation if the next government does not drop the project.
Q)Did you promise something more than what your party manifesto offers?
A)I have promised an agricultural university, a specialised coir industry to support coconut farmers, completion of Tirukadayur-Thanjavur bypass besides five rail projects, particularly Thanjavur-Trichy doubling, to voters in my native place. I believe in time-bound action. So I have promised whatever I can do in the next five years. (Baalu has released a booklet detailing what he has done and what he will do for Thanjavur).
