No Pongal money sans Minister Jayakumar's card, claim residents

Royapuram residents, on Sunday, alleged that the workers in ration shops demanded the visiting card of State Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar, along with his seal for distribution of the Rs 1,000 Pongal gift.

According to the residents, AIADMK party men close to Jayakumar have visiting cards of him and a seal with a signature of the minister on the rear side of the cards.

“People who go and register their names with the local AIADMK politicians were alone given the visiting card and the ration shop workers checked for the cards before giving the Rs 1000 cash,” said a resident on condition of anonymity.

On Sunday, residents of Royapuram queued up at the ration shops but to their utter shock a section of residents were denied Rs 1,000 gift though their names were included in the list. When they questioned the ration shop workers they did not get a proper reply.

When there was ruckus in the ration shops a section of people were given the amount and when the remaining people enquired, they were shocked to find the visiting card of Jayakumar with a seal printed on the reverse.

The people immediately picked up a fight. One of the residents, Krishnamoorthy, told DT Next that they were shocked to see the Minister’s visiting card with the people who had received Rs 1,000 cash and when they questioned the ration shop workers, they were asked by AIADMK cadre to register their names and get the visiting card to avail of the Pongal gift. “We were forced to get Jayakumar’s visiting cards and we feel the money is freebie for the election,” said Krishnamoorthy.

DMK Organising Secretary, RS Bharathi, told DTNext that AIADMK men had started poll work much before elections were announced. He also spoke of informing party chief Stalin about the development and if possible, raise the issue in the Assembly. Jayakumar, meanwhile, refuted the allegations. He said the Pongal gift would be given to all the 50,000 ration card holders in his constituency.