Policy decision soon to make Veda Nilayam as Arasu Illam: Minister

Madurai

The State government would soon make a policy decision and pass aspecial order declaring Veda Nilayam, the residence of former ChiefMinister J Jayalalithaa in Chennai, as ‘Arasu Illam’ and people arelooking forward to it, Minister for Information and Publicity, Kadambur CRaju said after providing essential commodities, including rice, dhaland grocery items, to the poor in Chekkarakudi in Thoothukudi onSaturday.

Speaking on a movie that is premiering through an over-the-top (OTT) platform, the Minister said that neither the state nor central government could intervene in this issue and moreover the OTT company is based in the US.

The move to release on OTT platform might affect several workers who rely on film industry for livelihood as films are produced and released in theatres to reach a wider audience. Several film producers, distributors and other stakeholders were benefiting in that system. This new process would not reach to wider audience and the government cannot prevent this system. However, he expressed the hope that talks between stakeholders could find out a solution favourable to all.

Taking a dig at the Opposition, he said under the pretext of helping people, the DMK was trying to gain political mileage. “They can help the people, but it’s not the right time to collect petitions at this time,” he said.