Chennai

Opposition leaders, led by DMK president MK Stalin appealed to the people to wear black badges and raise slogans condemning the failure of the AIADMK regime in eliminating coronavirus.

In a joint statement, leaders of the Secular Progressive Alliance advised people to gather in groups not exceeding five in front of their houses at 10 am on Thursday and sloganeer against the AIADMK regime for 15 minutes for showing interest only in opening liquor shops and not helping the affected people.

Remarking that the approach, decisions and activities of the ruling AIADMK suggest that it does not have a holistic view of the situation and lacks foresight of poor and middle class people’s problems, the joint statement said the government only attempts to pacify people by presenting some statistics, instead of securing the cooperation of people by transparently revealing the facts. Accusing the state of squandering the opportunity to improve health infrastructure and failing to identify vulnerable areas in the state capital and other districts for required preventive measures, the Opposition leaders said the AIADMK regime lacks scientific approach and it was only intent on centralising power.

“There is no room for politics during war. However, the AIADMK which weighed political calculations was not in the mind to consider suggestions made by the Opposition, experts and media,” the statement said, opining that easing the lockdown gradually was tantamount to leaving hapless people in the lurch.

Makkal Needhi Maiam president Kamal Haasan also questioned the rationale behind the state government’s decision to reopen liquor shops, saying during the lockdown people were supposed to venture out only to buy essentials.

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