Countdown for DMK government’s downfall has started from Neyveli, warns Anbumani Ramadoss

The countdown for the downfall of DMK government, which is forcibly snatching away cultivable lands from the farmers for NLCIL expansion, has begun, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said on Saturday.

The countdown for the downfall of DMK government, which is forcibly snatching away cultivable lands from the farmers for NLCIL expansion, has begun, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said on Saturday.

 Speaking to reporters at Thoothukudi airport, Dr. Ramadoss said the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, which was started 66-years ago, for augmenting Tamil Nadu’s power generation, had lost its ‘utility value’ after the State achieved ‘power surplus’ status as per the claims made by the present and previous governments. Tamil Nadu, which was generating 36,000 MW power annually, was in need of 18,000 MW. The State government, as per its policies, was planning to increase 50% of its generation of power through renewable sources by 2030 and to achieve ‘zero carbon emission’ by 2040.

The NLCIL, which was giving 800 MW power to Tamil Nadu, was supplying only 400 MW now for which 50,000 acre was being destroyed in the guise of development. The Stalin-led government should give up its anti-farmer plans. The PMK had been fighting against NLCIL over the past 40 years. It organised a series of protests and met the ministers and the Chief Secretary at Fort St. George over land acquisition.

However, the anti-farmer DMK government’s police triggered tension, clashed with protesting PMK cadre and foisted case against them besides detaining them.

Drawing a parallel to Singur and Nandigram incidents, Dr. Ramadoss said the CPI(M) was driven out of power in West Bengal when they tried to crush the farmers’ protests in the guise of industrial development.

 “We don’t do politics and politicise the NLCIL issue as it is farmers’ issue. So, I warn Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Minister for Finance and Electricity Thangam Thennarasu that the countdown for DMK’s downfall has begun from Neyveli, where standing paddy crop has been destroyed without conscience.

“The Collector says he will give compensation for the crops destroyed. Will you eat the currency notes or rice? What you saw in Neyveli (the protest) yesterday is only a sample. Our agitation will be unprecedentedly intense in the days to come. We’ll not stop until you stop (acquiring lands),” he warned them.