EPS challenges CM Stalin for direct debate on welfare schemes

COIMBATORE: AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday said the DMK cannot curtail the AIADMK by foisting false cases.

“Even if one thousand Stalins are born, the AIADMK cannot be curtailed,” he said, while spearheading the party’s hunger protest in Coimbatore to condemn DMK for increase in prices of electricity, property tax and milk.

Daring Chief Minister MK Stalin for a debate, Palaniswami said, “I am ready to list out the welfare schemes implemented by the AIADMK and its benefit to people. Is Stalin ready for a direct debate with me on the schemes implemented by the DMK?” he challenged.

Further, Palaniswami said the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu will deteriorate, whenever the DMK comes to power. “And, this trend continues even now. Rather than addressing the issue, he blames opposition parties and causes anguish to people,” he said.

Taking further pot shots, the AIADMK leader termed Stalin as a puppet and inefficient Chief Minister. “These 18 months of DMK rule is an example of how a government and a Chief Minister shouldn’t function. The state is ruled by a family and a corporate company,” he said.

Claiming that the AIADMK, in its 10 years of golden rule achieved a lot by introducing welfare schemes, Palaniswami said the Chief Minister does not have any locus-standi to criticise the previous government.

“Only schemes brought by the AIADMK were being launched by Stalin,” he said.

Alleging that the DMK has been boycotting Coimbatore due to political vendetta and is cancelling schemes introduced by the AIADMK, Palaniswami said the DMK is trying to shift the integrated bus terminus from Vellalore, even though 50 per cent of works have got over, to a place where a real estate firm has acquired 200 acres of land.

“It should be dropped or the DMK will face the anger of people. Also, the proposed industrial park in Annur should be dropped,” he said, adding that the DMK has failed to fulfill any of its 520 poll promises.

“The DMK has failed to scrap NEET, stopped Rs 1,000 financial assistance given to seven lakh elderly people and didn’t provide Rs 1,000 to women heads of family. We have petitioned Governor RN Ravi against irregularities committed by the DMK. The AIADMK alliance will win all the 40 seats in the Lok Sabha polls,” he added.

The AIADMK has also announced of another round of protests across Tamil Nadu in the coming days.