The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led secular democratic progressive alliance will work towards reviving industries that are hit hard by Goods and Services Tax and demonetisation, CPI(M) candidate for the Coimbatore Parliamentary constituency P.R. Natarajan said here on Saturday.
Addressing reporters at the DMK and Congress office, he said that the small and medium industries that employed thousands of labourers were either closed and or were on the verge of closure. “If the alliance were to be voted to power, the new government would take steps to revive the industries,” he said.
The new government would also stop the move to privatise water supply distribution in Coimbatore, a scheme brought in by the State Government. “Access to drinking water was a basic right of the people and how could it be privatised,” he asked.
On the Pollachi sexual abuse case, Mr. Natarajan, who had represented the Coimbatore in Lok Sabha between 2009 and 2014, said ruling party politicians, however a high post they might occupy, and police officials should be taken to task as the abuse had been going for over seven years, the period during which the AIADMK was in power in the State.
The investigating agency should also probe the suicides that happened in Pollachi during the period to see if the victims had come under the sexual abuse case accused's influence.
In response to a question on the problems that the Coimbatore constituency faced, Mr. Natarajan replied that he would focus on improving connectivity by building more bridges, ensure that public sector undertakings were not shut down and those who had given their lands for the establishment of Bharathiar University received compensation without any further delay.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee working president Mayura Jayakumar and DMK MLA N. Karthik were present.