The AIADMK recently staged a protest in front of the Coimbatore South Tahsildar's office in Tamil Nadu to condemn the hike in the prices of essential commodities and vegetables. Led by former minister S P Velumani, the protest was joined by over 1,000 people, wore vegetable garlands around their necks and raised slogans against the Tamil Nadu government and condemned the price rise.
Coimbatore: The AIADMK protested in front of the office of the Coimbatore South Tahsildar over the increase in the prices of vital commodities and vegetables in Tamil Nadu.
Former minister S P Velumani led the demonstration, which was attended by former minister S M Velusamy, legislators P R G Arunkumar, Amman Arjunan, Damodaran, A K Selvaraj, Jayaraman, Kandasamy, Amul Kandasamy, and over 1,000 people.
Former minister S P Velumani and other legislators, including former ministers, wore vegetable garlands around their necks and raised slogans against the Tamil Nadu government and condemned the price rise.
SP Velumani told reporters after the event, "A protest was held against the steep price rise in Tamil Nadu, and edappadi had pointed out the rise in the prices of essential commodities through the report and the media."
If the prices of vital commodities rise, immediate financial assistance should be provided, and cooperative societies should purchase more expensive veggies through the cooperative sector and sell them to the public at a lower price. He alleged that the DMK government did not take any action in such a situation during the AIADMK regime and that the DMK government did not pay heed to it. He said the prices of all kinds of commodities like vegetables, groceries and construction have gone up tremendously and urged the government to intervene and bring down the prices.
This government has not allocated any projects to the Coimbatore district and has not completed the plans introduced by the AIADMK regime. He stated that while money was provided in the first phase for the Coimbatore Metro rail project during the AIADMK regime, it is now being stated that the metro rail will only be constructed on two routes, whereas the metro rail project should be implemented on all lines.
He also said that a CBI probe should be ordered into the case in which the Coimbatore DIG committed suicide and that anyone who speaks the truth about the incident can be arrested and even if the AIADMK IT wing makes general comments, a case is being filed.
He predicted that the AIADMK would win the assembly and parliamentary elections. He alleged that whenever the federal government hiked prices, Edappadiar issued a statement pointing it out, and that when onion prices increased during the AIADMK regime, Stalin blamed Edappadi for it. "Even though the present Tamil Nadu Prohibition Minister is someone we can respect, none of us can accept that those who drink in the morning cannot be accepted as drunkards". Can those who go to work in the morning get drunk and go away? He also questioned that he was given the department and made to speak like this.
In response to a media enquiry about BJP officials claiming to be the true opposition, former minister S P Velumani stated, "We are the true opposition party." He said that the AIADMK was the party that held the most protests for the people throughout this period, and that the DMK was unable to respond to Edappadi's queries in the assembly.
"Those who are the leaders for the growth of some parties in Tamil Nadu will say that we are the opposition," he added, adding that the parties allied with the DMK were previously allied with the AIADMK when they led many protests against the government. But now they are giving a statement only if the DMK says so, ask them who is the slave now," he said.