OPS slams DMK govt’s move to hike transport service charges

CHENNAI: AIADMK coordinator and former chief minister O Panneerselvam on Wednesday criticised the DMK government’s proposal to hike various fees of transport department services in Tamil Nadu and demanded immediate withdrawal of the plans.

“After deciding to hike electricity tariff charges, Aavin products rates and increasing fees for university certificates, the plan to increase transport department service charges is like adding fuel to the fire,” he said in a statement here.

Claiming that though people were slowly limping back to normalcy from COVID-19 pandemic situation, Panneerselvam said that the common people were also suffering from the increase in the prices of essential commodities and constructing materials.

Listing out the proposed increase in the transport department services, the AIADMK leader said it was also reported that the official announcement in this regard would be made by this month-end.

“It is highly condemnable that the government continues to put the financial burden on the people,” he said adding “on one hand the DMK government had failed to fulfill its election promises and on the other imposing several taxes to aggravate the sufferings of the people.”

Stating that after DMK came to power, the monthly budget of the people had increased by Rs 5,000, he said, “however, the income has not raised to meet the expenses.”

Panneerselvam said when people were already suffering from various factors at this juncture, the state government should withdraw its plan to increase the service charges of the transport department.

“Therefore, the Chief Minister should immediately intervene in the issue and should cancel the proposal to hike fee of transport department services,” he added.