Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Vijayakant on Monday said the three-year rule of the AIADMK had not mitigated the sufferings of people, who were weighed down by inflationary pressure and eroding income.
Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam was just content with dashing off letters to the Centre on issues concerning people. If he was really interested in improving the lot of people, he should make a personal visit to Delhi to meet Central leaders to find solutions. The State had hardly achieved the projected growth rate. The DMK and the AIADMK were hurling charges against one another, he said.
Referring to the continuing dispute over sharing of river water, Mr. Vijayakant said the riparian States ought to follow court directions, and parties should desist from politicising the issue. Though the Congress was ruling in Karnataka and Kerala, it did not evince any interest in finding an amicable solution to the river water (the Cauvery and the Mullaperiyar) issues to protect the interest of Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Vijayakant said the sugarcane farmers in the State were agitated over the underpayment, to the extent of Rs 300 for a tonne of sugarcane, being made by the private sugar factories. The government should come forward to pay the difference amount to the farmers.
On controversy over the conduct of jallikattu, he said that since it was a traditionally hailed heroic sport, it must be conducted.
On allegations that he is a liquor addict, he said, “I am not addicted to liquor. I am ready to undergo a medical test in this regard to disprove the allegations.” He challenged media persons to fix the time and place for him to undergo such a test. He called upon the government to impose total prohibition.
His wife Premalatha also stated that drinking hot beverages would affect the liver. She was ready to subject her husband to a medical test in this regard. She also said the DMDK was a corruption-free party.
Pongal packets
Mr. Vijayakant gave away Pongal packets to as many as 5,500 poor people in his Rishivandhiyam constituency. The packets contain rice, jaggery, cashew, ghee, dhoti and sari.
