In a bid to appease the public following the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's rout in the Lok Sabha election, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday announced withdrawal of the anti-conversion bill, cases against her political rivals and defamation cases against the media.
She also restored free power to farmers.
In a statement issued in Chennai, the CM said the cases filed against including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M Karunanidhi, former TN Congress Committee president E V K S Elangovan, Communist Party of India state secretary R Nallakannu and CPI-Marxist leader N Varadharajan under the TN Essential Services Maintenance Act for allegedly instigating government employees to go on strike in July 2003 would be withdrawn.
She also cancelled all punishments meted out to the employees who had participated in the strike.
She also announced that her government would move a resolution in the assembly to drop proceedings against The Hindu and other newspapers, in connection with privilege issues that had led to a nationwide protest.
The statement said an ordinance repealing the anti-conversion law would be promulgated immediately.
She said the government would directly reimburse the state electricity board for the power used by the farmers, irrespective of their land holdings.
However, the statement was silent on the cases filed against some political leaders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
The decisions were taken in response to the needs and aspirations of the people, she said, adding her government would always be a "people's government".
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