DMK chief happy over "amicable settlement" of NLC issue

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday expressed relief over the "amicable settlement" of the NLC issue.

In a column in the DMK's official organ, 'Murasoli', the party President said, "I am happy to note that the NLC workers are happy.

"It is a great disappointment to those who wanted to politicize the issue," he said taking an apparent dig at AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa.

"I was told that those, who issued statements that they would be by the side of the workers, even without visiting Neyveli, are hurt as the workers did not mention their names in the thanksgiving meeting at Neyveli yesterday," he said.

Reports said a section of workers, owing allegiance to the AIADMK, shouted slogans at the meeting for leaving out the name of Jayalalithaa, when the speakers thanked the leaders for their efforts in making the Centre to put on hold its decision to disinvest 10 per cent of its shares in NLC.

Explaining his statement yesterday that 'toil and truth' had won in the NLC issue, he said toil meant the labour force and truth meant that all the 'Leftist-minded' forces would always protect the workers.