People paying for 105-day theatrics: LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin

CHENNAI: Leader of the Opposition and DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday accused the TVK government of neglecting farmers, failing to fulfil its election promises and reducing the Assembly to a stage for political theatrics instead of addressing public concerns.

Taking aim at the Assembly proceedings, Udhayanidhi said, "Are we coming to the Assembly or to a Super Singer programme? If questions are asked, they should be answered. How can we respond when songs are being sung?"

Are they running a government or a circus company? The LoP asked. "The performance of this government is at that level," he said, predicting that people would soon teach the ruling dispensation a fitting lesson for its alleged arrogance and misgovernance.

Speaking at a wedding ceremony in Pattukkottai, Thanjavur district, Udhayanidhi said farmers had borne the brunt of the government's first 105 days in office, alleging that the delay in releasing water from the Mettur dam had severely affected kuruvai cultivation in the Delta region.

"I have been coming to Thanjavur frequently. I have visited the district four times in the last three months. Even when I do not come, this government arrests me and brings me here," he said, referring to his recent detention following a farmers' protest.

Udhayanidhi said the DMK had organised a major agitation in Thanjavur on August 3, demanding that the government address farmers' grievances. He claimed he had spoken for nearly 22 minutes at the protest and criticised the Chief Minister and the government, but was arrested after stating that Cauvery water had not reached the Delta. "I am not someone who is afraid of arrest. This government would have realised that by now," he said.

He alleged that the police later diverted the vehicle carrying him to Sengipatti police station after large numbers of DMK workers gathered in Thanjavur. He also claimed that the government subsequently told the court that he had not been arrested and would only be questioned before being released.

Udhayanidhi said the Delta remained a DMK stronghold, claiming that the ruling party had won only four of around 30 seats in the region in the Assembly elections.

Training his guns on the government's financial priorities, he alleged that it had cited a lack of funds for farmers' drought relief while allocating money to purchase cars for ruling-party MLAs. He said the DMK had made it clear that its MLAs did not want the vehicles and that the government should instead address farmers' problems.

He also alleged that the government had failed to implement key election promises, including Rs 2,500 in monthly assistance for women, six free LPG cylinders, and Rs 4,000 in monthly aid for unemployed youth.