The Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, on Sunday appealed to the public not to vent their anger at public property as that would have a debilitating effect on public services.
Inaugurating a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus service at Azhagichipatti village near here, Mr. Chidambaram said that public services like road and rail transport could be sustained only through public patronage. Though the use of two-wheelers and cars had increased, the people, he said, should patronise public transport for planned journeys. Apart from saving money, public transport would be an intelligent choice, he said.
Thanking the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, the Transport Minister, K. N. Nehru, and the TNSTC for sanctioning a bus service for the village within a month of putting forth a request, Mr. Chidambaram appealed to the people not to vent their anger at public property. Stones should not be thrown at buses or buildings as an expression of anger as any public utility was provided with people's money. He said that the new bus service from Karaikudi to Madurai, which would take a third route apart from the two conventional routes, would serve villages in seven panchayats.
Later, addressing a gathering after declaring open a community hall at Komalipatti, Mr. Chidambaram explained how the United Progressive Alliance Government had made the right to education a fundamental right. The allocation made for primary education and noon-meal scheme was unprecedented.
