MK Stalin wants Lokayukta, transparent governance
The people had given such a verdict as they want the opposition party to monitor the government's actions.
Chennai: Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Wednesday demanded the formation of Lokayukta in the State with powers to enquire into complaints against Chief Minister and other ministers, besides transparency in governance.
Speaking on the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address, he said the difference between AIADMK and DMK in the Assembly elections was very small.
The people had given such a verdict as they want the opposition party to monitor the government’s actions. Stalin welcomed the Governor’s demand for a fair share of tax revenues for the State government and making Tamil as one of the official languages at the Centre and one of the languages in the Madras high court. He demanded that loans obtained by all farmers should be waived.
However, Co-operatives Minister K. Raju said the AIADMK had promised to waive the loan of small and marginal farmers and the poll promise had been fulfilled. Stalin said the details of waiver for farmers should he put in the website.
He charged that the government was refusing to procure milk produced by manufacturers. However, dairy development minister Shanmuganathan said some vendors were trying to sell low quality milk which could not be bought by government.
When Stalin listed the price of essential commodities and appealed to the government to control the spiralling prices, food minister R. Kamaraj said 20 kg of rice was being given freely, while pulses were being sold at '30 per kg and palmolein at '25 per kg through special PDS schemes.
The government was selling vegetables cheaply through farm outlets, besides giving cheap food at Amma canteens, selling Amma water at low price, and medicines at lower prices through Amma pharmacies.
State Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam, who intervened, recalled the answer by Minister K. Ponmudy during the DMK rule to a question on price rise. Quoting Ponmudy, he said prices would be going up all the time, but people’s income had increased.
The food minister said the State government is spending Rs 24,600 crore as food subsidy and this was a major step to control prices of essential commodities.
Stalin demanded a white paper on the new companies that are coming up and asked the government to put them in government website. He also wanted the government to control the activities of hired gangs, besides seeking early completion of flood protection schemes for the city.