Cemeteries of martyrs at Moolakothalam safe: O Panneerselvam

O Panneerselvam gave this assurance while responding to a special call attention motion moved by S Sudarshanam (Madhavaram), and others, and with specific reference to the protest led by MDMK general secretary Vaiko. Deputy Leader of Opposition Duraimurugan wanted an all-party delegation of MLAs to take stock of the situation from the field instead of relying upon the officials’ version being read to the Assembly by the Deputy CM. 

Duraimurugan also appreciated OPS for admitting the fact that it was the Anti-Hindi agitations which helped both the parties to get power. 

In reply, OPS agreed to take up a delegation to the site to allay the fears of the Opposition on the project.

As against the claims of the removing the cemeteries of Anti-Hindi martyrs, OPS observed that the extent of land handed over to the Slum Clearance Board is separated by 300m from the grave of Thalamuthu and Natarajan, and 100m from that of Dharmambal.

He also noted that there were no graves related to Muthukumar and Amaresan, who laid down their lives for Lankan Tamils cause, as their remains were cremated. 

“There was also a complaint lodged with National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) against this project, and the Vice-Chairperson of NCSC had held a hearing in this regard at Adi-Dravida Welfare and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Office,” he said. 

The beneficiaries submitted before the NCSC seeking to implement the project in the earmarked place since they would do not want to be relocated. “Following the hearing, the NCSC official had given oral instruction to put the project on hold until the investigations are complete, and the second edition of the hearing would take place on Friday,” he said. 

To a separate query on implementing the Amma 2-wheeler scheme, OPS reasoned that funds has been allocated to accommodate the backlog beneficiaries for this fiscal and there was fresh allocation of Rs 250 crore for 1 lakh beneficiaries in the next fiscal.