Don’t ignore VAOs, hold talks to end strike, Stalin urges CM

Condemning the ruling AIADMK for ignoring the protests of the VAOs who have also been holding hunger strike and demonstrations demanding the fulfillment of 20 demands, which also includes construction of toilets in all VAO offices, Stalin condemned Revenue Minister for dividing the unions by holding talks merely with pro-government union office-bearers.

Accusing the government of getting a friendly union to announce the withdrawal of protests, Stalin who is also the Leader of Opposition said that even assessment of cyclone damage in Delta districts was affected due to the agitation of the VAOs who form the bedrock of revenue administration. People were agitating in several parts of Delta districts due to the protest of the VAOs there, he added.

Remarking that the Chief Minister was duty bound to interfere and resolve the issue when the Minister fails to end the impasse, Stalin said that it was shameful that neither the CM nor his Ministers have understood their responsibility and they were struggling to handle the situation. He urged the CM to immediately invite all unions and hold talks to end the VAOs protest.

Hello FM has presented “Hello Tamizha” award 2018 to Stalin for being the most talked about personality of the year. Instituted ten years ago, Hello FM has been presenting the award to a prominent personality who is discussed the most and who draws maximum public attention in all media. The award was presented to Stalin at Anna Arivalayam on Saturday.

DMK calls for MLAs meet on Jan 2

The DMK has convened a meeting of its MLAs at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam on Wednesday, January 2, to discuss the party’s strategy in the state Assembly. DMK whip R Chakrapani in a statement issued on Saturday instructed all the MLAs of the party to compulsorily attend the meeting scheduled for 5 pm on Wednesday. The first session of the state Assembly in the New Year will begin with the Governor’s address on the morning of January 2. The session is expected to continue for a few days. 

The principal opposition party had deferred the scheduled launch of its “gram sabha meeting” covering all 12,617 panchayats from January 3 to 8 owing to the Assembly session. The session could be stormy with the DMK targeting the ruling AIADMK on crucial issues like Cyclone Gaja relief and secondary grade teachers’ strike. The DMK-led Opposition would also attempt to corner the treasury benches on the Sterlite issue, more so after the NGT quashing the closure GO issued by the government.