Stalin slams state on fishermen rescue

Stalin, who led a condemnation rally in the city against the Centre and state for not rescuing the Kanniyakumari fishermen a fortnight since hundreds of them went missing due to Ockhi cyclone, said the AIADMK had shelved the walkie-talkie project as it was conceived during DMK regime led by its chief M Karunanidhi. “If only they had implemented the project, thousands of fishermen would not have gone missing and hundreds would not have lost their lives,” he said.  

He also alleged a multi-crore scam in the project and said that parleys were held for a fat commission in the purchase of walkie-talkies. “A situation has arisen where thousands of fishermen have gone missing due to the corruption of the ruling AIADMK,” he charged. 

“Their only concern has been sticking to power,” Stalin said, asking the ruling AIADMK to do at least 25 per cent of what Kerala government did on the issue.

Earlier in the day, the DMK working president insisted that the CM immediately allocate funds in order to save the Tamil Department in Dravidian University in Andhra Pradesh.