MDMK conference in Madurai conference demands probe into alleged malpractices by BJP

MDMK's Vaiko calls for probe into alleged malpractices in Union govt's schemes; demands NEET exemption, AIIMS in Madurai. Conference condemns Centre's unilateral move to appoint search panel for 3 TN univs & BJP's hidden agenda to rename India. Urges public to vote for I.N.D.I.A. alliance to restore lost sheen of democracy.

The BJP government at the Centre has committed a series of malpractices and irregularities in the implementation of government schemes such as Bharatmala Pariyojna (a road and highways development project) as well as six other major projects, totalling ₹7.5 lakh crore, alleged MDMK general secretary, Vaiko, in Madurai on Friday

Mr. Vaiko called for a probe in connection with this, at the party’s celebrations of the 115th birth anniversary of Annadurai, popularly known as Anna. The celebrations were themed around the slogan Koodal Nagaril Kooduvom (Let us meet in the temple city Madurai, also known as Koodal Nagar).

The celebrations were held as part of a conference of the party’s senior office-bearers from various partsof the State. As many as 14 resolutions were passed on the occasion.

It was pointed out at the conference that in the first phase of Bharatmala, 34,800 km of roads were laid at a cost of ₹5.35 lakh crore, while subsequently, another 26,316 km of road were laid at ₹8.46 lakh crore. As per the Cabinet’s recommendation, for every one km, the government was to spend ₹15.37 crore, while the contract firm’s rate revealed ₹32.17 crore spent for every one km. This was two times the recommended price, as pointed out in the recent Comptroller and Auditor General report.

Likewise, the meeting pointed out the complaints over excess collection from just five toll plazas, suggested that the contractors had collected ₹154 crore in excess. The MDMK passed a resolution demanding a thorough probe into this.

Sri Lankan Tamil, NEET, AIIMS issues

The party also passed a resolution directing the Union government to not extend support to Sri Lanka. “Whatever, we give to our neighbour [Sri Lanka], it should be given with certain conditions,” the conference resolved and pointed out that the Lankan government had not yet apologised for the killing over 1.5 lakh innocent Tamils during the country’s civil war.