Criticising Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi for changing the rules of Pongal gift scheme without consulting the elected government and legislators, leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam A. Anbalagan has urged the government to provide ₹2,000 each to all ration cardholders as financial assistance before the festival.
Addressing a press conference here, the AIADMK leader said the Lt. Governor had brought in changes to the guidelines for providing Pongal gifts without consulting the government or MLAs. The Lt. Governor’s stand had caused great heartburn among people.
“People are not getting free rice. Now, the Lt. Governor has put a hindrance on providing gifts. The government should provide financial assistance to all cardholders. We should provide people double the amount of what Tamil Nadu has given,” he said.
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Slams Congress
He criticised the ruling Congress for organising a protest in the national capital seeking Statehood.
Stating that his party was not against the Union Territory getting Statehood, Mr. Anbalagan said the Congress, which was in power at the Centre for several years, had always turned a blind eye to the demand for Statehood. The Congress government at the Centre had not responded to the resolutions adopted by the Legislative Assembly seeking Statehood, he said.
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He appealed to the striking electricity department employees to withdraw their strike as public had been put to hardship.