Chennai: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), on March 1 welcomed the Union Budget for 2003-04 fiscal, presented by Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh in Parliament on February 28.

Speaking to reporters at the DMK headquarters, DMK president and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said, "It is generally welcome. But the increase in fertilizers and diesel will affect farmers."

He appealed to Singh to announce rollback in the prices of fertilisers and diesel, while replying to the debate on the Budgetary proposals.

To a question on whether he would meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in connection with the arrest of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) in July last, Karunanidhi said he would consult all Opposition political party leaders in the state and then decide.

Referring to recent arrest of former DMK minister K Ponmudi in connection with alleged incidents of violence in Villapuram on February 26, he charged the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government with letting loose repression and dragging the former Transport Minister to prison solely for causing inconvenience to him.

A case had been registered against him for damaging some cut-outs of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa erected for a government function held there on February 25.

PTI