Grant permission for election rallies in rural areas: G K Mani

He claimed that the Election Commission has granted permission to conduct meetings at Corporation, Municipality and Town Panchayats but denied parties from organising election rallies in rural areas. He said that the EC’s decision was most disappointing, while participating at a party meet in Chennai.

He added that the new procedure of applying online for permission to conduct election rallies overcomplicates a once simple process. He claimed that the new process has made it near impossible for parties to apply for conducting party meets. 

It is better to follow the older practice of obtaining permission directly from the police. He also demanded the EC to provide printed receipts to voters at all 234 constituencies. Currently they are only provided in 17 constituencies. He added that the PMK will release the candidate list soon.

PMK founder S. Ramadoss condemned the brutal attack by police personnel on farmer Balan who was unable to pay the interest on a loan he took from a bank to buy a tractor. He claimd that the police action was sanctioned by bank officials to reclaim the due amount. 

Ramadoss claimed that that police personal behaved like goondas to recover the money. He said the bank chose to avoid proper legal proceedings and engaged the services of the police to threaten the farmer and tried to seize the tractor. 

Public sector banks chose to waive loan amounts to the tune of Rs 1.14 lakh crore. The government has taken no action to recover Rs 3.41 lakh crore owned by corporate companies. Instead PSU and private banks flex their muscle to threaten the common man, he claimed. 

He demanded the government to waive all loans for farmers. He demanded stern action against the officials and policemen who attacked the farmer.