AIADMK gears up to take on UPA

CHENNAI: The AIADMK is all set to corner the Centre in the winter session of Parliament that starts on Tuesday, over issues of continuing attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen and the “stepmotherly attitude” of the Union government towards the State.According to sources, the AIADMK had already given a calling attention notice to discuss the issue of attacks on fishermen allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy in the Rajya Sabha. The Coast Guard’s stance that the India- Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) should be declared a ‘no fishing zone’ is also likely to echo in the Parliament as the CG’s view in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court was felt to be falling short of addressing the concerns of the fishermen, sources said. It’s other priority would be the ‘stepmotherly attitude of the Centre’ towards the State. The party is likely to demand for special financial packages like the one West Bengal received.During the debates on corruption issues, including the 2G issue, the party is understood to be bracing to take on Union Minister P Chidambaram over a Finance Ministry note that linked him to the decision on 2G spectrum pricing.Inflation, retrieving black money from tax havens and tackling graft are the national issues on which the AIADMK would join forces with the opposition, including the BJP and the Left parties.Asked if the AIADMK was inching close to the BJP-led NDA, an AIADMK leader said his party only supported the fight against black money and graft. “Even the 2009 Lok Saba poll manifesto of AIADMK speaks of bringing back black money. But for minor differences, the stance of all opposition parties (at national level), including the Left, are just the same with regard to corruption.” Presided over by M J Jayalalithaa, a meet of the AIADMK’s Parliamentary party was held here on Monday.The party has five MPs in the Rajya Sabha and nine members in the Lok Sabha.