DMK wants Centre to declare dengue epidemic as health disaster

A resolution was adopted to this effect at the district secretaries meeting of the party, chaired by the DMK working president MK Stalin. It also condemned the BJP-led government at the Centre for lending support to the ‘corrupt’ state government, which does not enjoy a majority. 

“The state, in its report to the Centre, had stated that 40,940 people were affected by dengue and of that 126 people had died due to it since 2012 to October 9 last. It also testifies Stalin’s remarks of calling this government as dengue regime. The situation warrants a declaration of a medical emergency in the state by the Centre and the grant of funds sought by the state to combat the disease,” the resolution reasoned. 

“As many as 1,110 people were affected by dengue in the CM’s constituency alone, after the Central team, which took stock of the dengue situation had downplayed the loss of 40 lives as minimal and a Union Minster of State (Ashwini Kumar) had justified the state of having done well in curtailing the menace. Instead of heaping praises on this defunct government, the Centre must take steps to curtail the situation by declaring the epidemic as a health disaster,” the resolution further reiterated. 

Another resolution expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members besides thanking the party functionaries for their efforts in taking combat measures. The meeting also accused the state of surrendering before the Centre. 

It slammed the ruling dispensation of giving up the state’s rights on several fronts. Accepting NEET, saffronisation of education, giving up of state’s power for a tax regime by accepting GST, failure to set up Cauvery Management Board and not ensuring the state’s share in inter-state river water disputes, among others, were listed.  

It also accused the ruling party of having lost its moral responsibility to govern the state. The meeting also demanded that the state conduct the local body elections immediately to uphold democracy and better governance. 

Emerging from the district secretaries meeting, Stalin said he would embark on a month-long outreach campaign across the state from November to highlight the failure of the AIADMK regime akin to his Namakku Naame, which would also focus on reviving the party’s district units. 

Asked whether it was timed with the impending local body elections, the Leader of Opposition said, “Not only for local body, assembly and parliamentary polls, the campaign is also good for the party’s growth. It will begin in the first week of November and conclude in December.”  Stalin further said, “The campaign is also needed to tell people how the horse-trading regime was bowing to the Centre.” 

“The components of the itinerary were being set in conjunction with district secretaries and the final schedule will be announced in four to five days”, he added. He launched his earlier version of the outreach programme in September 2015, ahead of the 2016 Assembly elections.