AIADMK cadres foil corporation’s bid to close Amma canteen in Salem

SALEM: AIADMK cadres held a sit-in and foiled an attempt to close an Amma canteen at Maniyanur near Nethimedu in the city on Thursday.
According to urban and district secretary (OPS faction) N Dinesh, the Salem municipal corporation (SMC) officials tried to close the canteen citing poor revenue on Wednesday evening.
“They even asked six women workers at the canteen to stop coming to work,” he told TOI. AIADMK held a sit-in on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, forcing the officials to hold talks with the protesters.
Finally, the officials agreed to open the canteen. They also allowed the workers to work from Thursday. Meanwhile, former coordinator of AIADMK O Panneerselvam, in a statement, urged the government not to close Amma canteens as they cater to the poor.
“Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa opened the canteens exclusively for the poor. They would be affected if the state government closes them,” he said.
DMK councillor L Palanisamy denied that the corporation attempted to close the canteen. “The building housing the canteen is dilapidated. So, we wanted to shift the canteen to another place. That’s why we are closing the canteen,” he said.