Economic development of the State would not be possible with distribution of freebies and increasing the sale of liquor, Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss said.
Describing the one-year rule of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as more a “suffering” (vethanai) for the people than “achievement” (sathanai), he said only increasing agricultural and industrial production, ensuring uninterrupted power supply, providing compulsory quality education and generation of employment would help develop the economy.
On the failures of the Government, he said that while the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, on assuming power had stated that robbers from Tamil Nadu had fled to Andhra Pradesh. But, now it looked like criminals from North Indian States were camping in Tamil Nadu. Stating that over 300 incidents of heist at jewellery and pawn shops and over 300 murders have been reported in the State, Dr. Ramadoss told reporters here on Thursday that law and order in the State has deteriorated.
The AIADMK promised to set right the electricity problem within three months on assuming power. But, in the last one year it has only worsened. Contrary to the Chief Minister's claim of resolving the power crisis by June (said in March), the Electricity Minister has said that it would be resolved by next August.
The AIADMK came to power with the promise of reducing the prices of essential commodities, but it has burdened the people with Rs. 20,000 crore additional taxes, increase in prices of milk, power tariff and bus fare.
He criticised the Chief Minister for making 36 suo moto statements in the Assembly under Rule 110 of Assembly Rules on every department when she had 32 Ministers in her cabinet. “It is unprecedented,” he said.
Quoting the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, of warning Tamil Nadu of getting into dire situation because of increasing debts, Dr. Ramadoss said the freebies would only add to the State's debts which would increase to Rs. 1,42,917 crore by the end of the fiscal.
Refusing to entertain questions on the by-election to Pudukottai Assembly constituency, Dr. Ramadoss said his party would set an example to the entire nation by not spending money for electioneering except for the candidates' campaign in open jeeps during the next Parliamentary election. “We will not spare money even for booth expenses for party cadres. We are sure of winning 10 out of 39 seats in the State without forging alliance with any party,” he said.
Dr. Ramadoss condemned the State Government for its failure to prevent the deaths due to dengue in Tirunelveli district.
