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AIADMK assurance on minorities' rights

The All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, today reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of the rights of the minorities guaranteed under the Constitution.

The 23-page AIADMK manifesto, released by former Tamil Nadu chief minister and party general secretary Jayalalitha Jayaram, projects a moderate approach on the controversial issue of a common civil code, saying the party would strive to discover an approach acceptable to all as far as concerning the legal amendment on the common civil code.

The manifesto noted that all rights accorded to men in society must also be accorded to women.

On the other controversial issue of Article 370, according special status to Jammu and Kashmir, which the BJP wants to delete from the statute book, the manifesto says the party would strive for a consensus with other states to accord special status to Tamil Nadu also, to bring about a special legal amendment in accordance with its principles of social justice.

The party wants the Planning Commission to be only a coordinating body and said its dominance should be controlled and checked.

The manifesto promises to alleviate the hardships faced by the common man because of the economic reforms.

On the alleged deterioration in the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, the manifesto says the party would seek "central intervention" to restore law and order.

It also sought action on the report of the Jain Commission probing the conspiracy angle of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination. It said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram should be prosecuted as they had been indicted by the Commission.

The party assured that it would strive to make Tamil one of the official languages of the Union.

Steps would be taken to fulfill the long standing demands of Tamil Nadu -- the Sethu Samudram canal project and the Tuticorin Port extension project, the manifesto said.

The AIADMK also went high tech with Jayalalitha inaugurating the party's website.

Addressing a press conference after opening the Tell us what you think of this report