DMK cadres vandalise Amma canteen in Tamil Nadu: M K Stalin faces heat, expels two

CHENNAI: Two days after winning the popular mandate at the hustings in TN, DMK president M K Stalin came under fire after visuals showing a few DMK workers vandalizing Amma Unavagam (canteen) and removing former CM J Jayalalithaa’s portraits at the outlet in Mogappair East on Tuesday went viral on social media.
Amma Unavagam scheme was introduced by J Jayalalithaa in 2013 to serve food at subsidized rates. The canteens also served free food during the pandemic lockdown.
CM-elect Stalin ordered restoration of the name board and the portrait at the eatery and sacked two party workers for vandalism. Saidapet MLA and former mayor Ma Subramanian, who supervised the restoration work at the canteen, tweeted that legal action would be taken against them as per the order of the party chief. The JJ Nagar police have arrested Navasundar and Surendar on charges of trespassing and using obscene words. They were later let out on station bail.
AIADMK joint coordinator K Palaniswamy and coordinator O Panneerselvam said violence and political incivility of DMK workers have come to the fore again.
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While the welfare facility has been of immense help to people during crises like floods and pandemic, damage to their leader’s photo has caused anguish, they said. AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran tweeted saying the incident was an example that DMK men would never reform.
Pattali Makkal Katchi founder Dr Ramadoss said that though it is natural for ruling parties to make changes in accordance with their policies, people will not forgive DMK for unleashing something which they had apprehended.
In the video, a few men dressed in white shirt and black pants were seen barging into the canteen and bringing out the sign board and damaging it. As the intimidated women staff stood watching, they pulled down Jayalalithaa portrait and flung it along with groceries and vegetables