Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami wasted public money: TNCC chief

Briefing media persons at Sathyamurthy Bhavan here, Thirunavukkarasar said Palaniswami attempted to show that he is more a popular Chief Minister than Jayalalithaa. “Hence, he inked MoUs for investments of nearly Rs 3.5 lakh crore, while Jayalalithaa only signed MoUs for Rs 2.5 lakh crore,” he said.

“Even the Madras High Court has grown suspicious. Hence, the court has asked how many industries were coming up, what number of jobs would be generated and where would the industries come up?” the TNCC chief said.

Accusing the ruling AIADMK of wasting public money, he said: “How many jobs were generated and how much money was invested after the first edition of GIM? The government should release district-wise break up.”

Thirunavukkarasar also demanded an apology from the State and Central governments for insulting the National Anthem. Criticising the governments for not playing ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ and National Anthem at the foundation laying function of AIIMS in Madurai last week, he said: “Insulting the National Anthem is an insult to the country. Both the Centre and the State should tender an apology to the people.”

Talking to reporters later at the Airport, the TNCC chief said his party was committed to implement the minimum income guarantee scheme if it were voted to power. “Unlike the BJP, which did not fulfil its promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in each citizens’ account, the Congress would successfully implement minimum income guarantee scheme promised the party president Rahul Gandhi,” he added.

The state Congress chief found support from the DMK on the issue, with M K Stalin welcoming the announcement. Participating in the Grama Sabha meetings organised by his party in the western region, Stalin said the minimum income guarantee scheme would be a milestone in poverty alleviation in the country.