Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday slammed the Tamil Nadu government for rejecting the call for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into illegal granite mining in Madurai district. Besides, the government has not accepted the ₹1.11 lakh-crore loss estimate given by the Madras High Court-appointed legal commissioner, U. Sagayam.
In a statement, Mr. Ramadoss alleged that the government was trying to protect Ministers and officials who were involved in the illegal practice.
Stating that the government should view illegal granite mining as representing a war against the State’s economy, he added that it should direct either the CBI or a special investigation team to conduct a probe.
He called on the government to take over granite quarries and sell granite at a reasonable price.
‘Cancel MGR events’
Meanwhile, party founder S. Ramadoss urged the Tamil Nadu government to cancel the upcoming MGR centenary celebrations in 11 districts including Chennai, and use the allocated funds for the welfare of the people instead.
In a statement, he charged that the taxpayers’ money was being wasted on the pretext of the centenary celebrations, that too at a time when there were many issues that the State government was not focussing on.
Claiming that the conduct of such events had caused undue hardship to the people, he said, “The State’s finances are under stress and sugar prices have increased steeply. In such a situation, it is not acceptable for Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and his deputy O. Panneerselvam to be seeking publicity in the name of the MGR centenary celebrations.”
