VIRUDHUNAGAR
Around 300 people turned up to submit petitions regarding their grievances to Governor Banwarilal Purohit during his visit to Virudhunagar district on Friday.
While a majority of them were about personal grievances like request for free pattas, old age pension and jobs, a considerable number of them were also about common issues like lack of infrastructure in the district.
BJP functionaries from Virudhunagar submitted a petition seeking the Governor to stop the State government-funded project to construct a memorial for late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
“We opposed it because she was convicted in a corruption case. However, the Governor said that he could not intervene and suggested us to approach the court, if needed,” said S. Sankar Pandi, BJP State executive committee member.
Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association appealed to the Governor to urge the Centre to provide legal remedy through an amendment until the Supreme Court decided on ban on firecrackers.
A section of petitioners, however, expressed disappointment that the Governor just forwarded most petitions to the district administration while they expected him to take action through his office.
C. Sivasamy, a farmer from T. Veppankulam, who complained about the alleged fraud in a cooperative society in his village, said, “I have submitted several petitions to the Collector, Cooperative department and police in last two years. Since there was no action, I submitted one to Governor. If he is forwarding to authorities here, what is the use?,” he asked.
Expressing similar concerns, N.A. Ramachandra Raja, Virudhunagar district president of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, alleged that his petition focussing mainly on non-payment of dues by sugar mills to farmers was forwarded to the district authorities.
Chaos prevailed for a brief period at Virudhunagar Circuit House, where the Governor received the petitions, since the petitioners, who were made to wait under the sun for more than two hours, became restless and laid siege to the building.
“They gave us all a token in the morning. However, some partymen and others in groups, who came late, were allowed before us,” M. Subburaj from Saluvarpatti, who petitioned for a free patta, said.
The Governor, who reached Madurai by flight in the morning, went to Andal temple in Srivilliputhur and Mariammal temple in Virudhunagar, before he reached Virudhunagar Circuit House.
Collector A. Sivagnanam made a presentation to the Governor about the district and the developmental initiatives being undertaken.
In the evening, the Governor took part in Swachh Bharat Mission awareness campaign in Chandragiripuram village and Virudhunagar.
