CPI (M) demands Lokayukta in State

A Lokayukta should be set up in Tamil Nadu, said G. Ramakrishnan, CPI (M) State secretary, here on Thursday.

He told journalists said that his party was of the view that only through such an organisation can corruption be checked in the State. It should be brought in the next session of the Assembly itself.

Regretting that corruption had become rampant in the State, he said that both ministers and officials were out to make a fast buck.

He alleged that the government machinery had ceased to function and added that action was being taken against those protesting against corruption and other social problems rather than the offenders. The situation on the law and order front was causing concern.

Irregularities were taking place in all the local bodies. Pointing out that there was corruption in the allotment of road works, he said that even in The Nilgiris, only certain contractors were being favoured. The quality of work was also very poor. The government should constitute a high level committee to go into the irregularities.

The CPI (M) would not be a silent spectator to the looting of the tax payers money, Mr. Ramakrishnan said. To another query, he said that the party was yet to decide on allies for the next elections. He added that it would go only with those with people-friendly policies and opposed to corruption.

The party would stay away from communal outfits and those aggravating social problems such as untouchability.

Earlier, Mr.Ramakrishnan led a demonstration in protest against the alleged irregularities in the road works taken up particularly in and around Gudalur.