Chennai, Jan 11 (BPNS)

AIADMK coordinator and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami has said that the DMK government was indulging in loot under the pretext of providing Pongal gift hampers. He was speaking to reporters at the AIADMK office on Tuesday.

He said that the items were overpriced and procured from North India even though they were abundantly available in Tamil Nadu. He said that most of the ration card owners had not received all the 21 items promised in the gift hamper.

The senior leader who is also the leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly said that corruption to the tune of Rs 30 crore had taken place in the procurement of Sugar Cane for the gift hampers and added that the bags given with the gift hampers cost a maximum of Rs 30 but the pricing of the government was Rs 60.

The AIADMK leader charged that not all rice cardholders are receiving all the items promised in the gift hampers. He said that while some were receiving 15 items, others were getting 18 items, and rarely were getting all the 21 items. He also said that the procurement of the items to be included in the gift hampers was purchased from North Indian businessmen for the sake of commission.

Edappadi Palaniswamy also said that Chief Minister Stalin was interested only in publicity and was craving for that. He said that while Chief Minister was cycling, 500 policemen were on guard and the same was the situation when he was visiting a tea shop. Palaniswami also said that Stalin was not the only political leader who was cycling and visiting tea shops.

The AIADMK leader said that the state government was taking undue credit for the 11 Government Medical colleges that are to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister and said that 60 percent of work of these Medical colleges was completed during the period of the previous government.