Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder Vijaykanth has said the State government, while taking stringent action against those who were involved in illicit sand quarrying, should also initiate action against the officials and the politicians who supported it.
Addressing the party’s conference held at Tuticorin on Sunday night, Mr. Vijaykanth said that he was the first politician to raise a voice against the rampant illicit sand mining as it was causing a huge loss to the exchequer while seriously affecting the environment. The State government should have taken action against the illicit sand miners long ago and prevented plundering of minerals worth several crores of rupees.
At a time when the State government’s annual Budget was only Rs. 1 lakh crore, a few individuals had looted several lakhs of crores of rupees by squandering natural resources, he said.
He said the government should take action against the officials and the politicians also, who were supporting the sand miners for personal gains.
He criticised the government for selling the mineral water for Rs. 10 a bottle. “At a time when an idli is being sold for Re. 1 and sambar rice for Rs. 5, how can you sell water for Rs. 10?” he wondered.
On the alliance for next Parliamentary polls, the actor-turned politician said he would take a final decision in this regard only after consulting his cadre, “whose opinions are most important for the DMDK.” “We’ll organise a conference for this purpose and take a decision”.
He said the defamatory cases being filed against him would never deter him from fighting the State government’s anti-people policies.
On the ongoing protest against Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, Mr. Vijaykanth said the governments should make ensure safety of the local people before commissioning any project.
