Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami rubbishes DMK claim of dissolving government, says it’s wishful thinking

VIRUDHUNAGAR: The DMK would not be able to dissolve the State government through their fake criticism, asserted Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in Sivakasi on Monday. He was addressing the gathering at the birth centenary celebration of former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran.

Lauding the workers of the cracker and printing industries, he said because of their hard work, people refer Sivakasi as ‘Workers’Town’

The chief minister said recently several people had begun criticising the government and that the public treated them as mere entertainment. “If they get a microphone, they talk about dissolving the government without knowing the history of the party. The party is not a mushroom that just grew in the rainfall. It is a banyan tree,”said the CM.

Stating that MGR was a great leader who lived in the same way as was portrayed on the big screen, Palaniswami said, “The AIADMK is a seed sown by MGR and will stand forever. It cannot be destroyed by any storm or flood.” He also said that MGR’s and Jayalalithaa’s souls were leading the party and that the dream of dissolving the party would remain just that – a dream. 

Palaniswami blamed the increase in dengue cases on climate change, but took exception to the DMK making it a political issue. Describing the AIADMK government as people’s government, he said the people who were the real judges of the performance of his government, were supporting him.

During the function, Palaniswami distributed welfare measures worth Rs 54.87 crore to 21,733 beneficiaries. He also inaugurated 146 new buildings worth Rs 48.81crore and laid the foundation stone for the commencement of six new schemes worth Rs 1.80 lakh crore. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and other ministers including K T Rajenthra Bhalaji were present during the meeting.

Sivakasi may get Corporation status 

A proposal to upgrade Sivakasi Municipality to into a Corporation will be considered by the government, stated Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami during MGR centenary celebration in Sivakasi on Monday.

While addressing the gathering, Palaniswami said that Sivakasi has been a special grade Municipality since 2013. “The government will consider to upgrade Sivakasi Municipality into a Corporation by including Thiruthangal Municipality and nine village panchayats - Sithurajapuram, Vishwanatham and Naranapuram among others.”

Politing out that there are nearly 1,185 cracker and matches unit in the State, he said as the employees there work with hazardous chemicals, some of them lose their lives during accidents. “Accident insurance for the employees, which is currently J50,000 would be increased to `1 lakh and this would come in effect from September 1, 2018,” he said.

Talking about the people from Watrap, who experience difficulties in travelling to Srivilliputhur for their requirements, he said, “Making Watrap a separate Taluk would also be taken into consideration.” He also made several other announcements, including additional facilities to Virudhunagar Government Hospital and construction of new railway over bridges.