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DMK is not anti-Muslim, says Karunanidhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has deprecated attempts being made to project the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government as anti-Muslim.

Reacting to a television interview by a leader of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam, that the state government had done nothing for the betterment of the Muslim community, Karunanidhi, in a statement in Madras, alleged that the interview was given with a view to creating a rift between Muslim and Christian minorities.

The interview was misleading on many counts, he said, asserting that the ruling DMK would always stand by the minorities, especially Muslims.

Giving details of the welfare measures taken by the government for the Muslims, he said the then DMK government's decision to include Muslims whose mother tongue was Tamil as well as Urdu, in the list of backward classes, was hailed by late leader Quid-e-Milleth and still remembered with gratitude by Muslim leaders.

He also listed the opportunities given to Muslims in the panel for selection of sub-inspectors of police, universities and the state legislature. While Muslims were collectors of Salem, Theni and Tuticorin districts, the secretaries of public and highways departments and special secretary of the health department belonged to the Muslim community. The government has also appointed a Muslim as its chief whip, he pointed out.

UNI

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