The Puducherry unit of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has urged the government to order a crackdown on illegal money lenders.
Party leader in the Assembly A. Anbalagan told presspersons here on Wednesday that in the wake of self-immolation by a worker in Tirunelveli following frequent harassment over unpaid debt, the territorial administration should act upon usurers here.
The usurers are very active in the town and rural areas, mostly concentrated in market places.
He said information gathered by him revealed that illegal money lenders charged exorbitant interest on a daily basis from small vendors.
The Chief Minister should make public the steps the government planned to adopt against persons who lend money at unreasonably high interest rates.
The government should not wait till a tragedy to unfold to act against usurers, he added.
He wanted the government to convene a meeting of elected representatives and representatives of political parties to find a permanent solution to illegal construction of banners in public places.
The government should hold the elected representatives accountable for the banners erected in their constituency, the AIADMK leader said.
