Corruption has become all-pervasive in Tamil Nadu under the AIADMK regime and even civil servants are not free from the trend, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder Vijayakant said on Monday.
Launching a scathing attack on the State government, he said illegal sand quarrying was rampant, the cost of construction material had skyrocketed and that there were irregularities in the public distribution system.
“In Dharmapuri, I found that people could get only three litres of kerosene even though they had paid for five litres,” he alleged.
Mr. Vijayakant said development works had suffered because corruption scared away contractors. “The roads are in bad shape and travelling in national highways is a tough task,” he said.
Mr. Vijayakant also sharply criticised Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, saying she had taken a long break from office and was running the government through statements.
“Former Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai and MGR went to the U.S. for treatment. But on their return they resumed official work and never took a long break,” he said.
Mr. Vijayakant said despite issuing statements and announcing projects worth crores of rupees, the Jayalalithaa government shows no movement on the ground.
Mr. Vijayakant, who would be touring the state for a month from August 1 to meet the people, said his request for funds funds to desilt a canal in his Rishivanthiyam constituency had not been acceded to so far. Similarly, many of the DMDK MLAs could not get adequate funds for development works in their constituencies, he alleged.
’ TESO will serve no purpose’
Asked about his stand on the demand for closure of TASMAC-run retail liquor shops, he said it was wrong on the part of the government to run liquor shops as the policy was affecting the livelihood of the people.
“But you must know who is responsible for lifting prohibition in Tamil Nadu. It is the DMK government that introduced liquor in 1971,” he said.
The actor-turned-politician was equally critical of the DMK and the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) conference planned by the party, saying the conference would serve no purpose since the DMK as the ruling party did nothing to protect Sri Lankan Tamils during the last phase of war in Sri Lanka.
“It was the ruling party and Mr. Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister. He did nothing and allowed LTTE leader Prabhakaran to die. What is the point in organising TESO now? He has never been consistent in his stand. In the beginning he said Tamil Eelam was his objective. Now he has gone back on his stand,” he alleged.
Reiterating that his party would keep away from the election for Vice-President as the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre failed to get justice for Tamil Nadu on various issues, Mr. Vijayakant refused to entertain questions on alliance for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
He also parried questions on two of his MLAs – R. Sundararajan and Tamizh Azhagam – keeping away from party work as they were said to be unhappy with the party leadership.
