Jaya’s ‘powerful’ reply to Karunanidhi

Jayalalithaa said everyone was talking about prohibition and especially, Karunanidhi was devoting more time to this sensitive issue. The people do have the right to speak about it but neither the DMK president nor his party have any locus-standi or moral authority to speak  about prohibition. It was the DMK regime that removed total prohibition in Tamil Nadu in 1971, she charged. 

On Monday, appealing to the electorate in Vridhachalam to vote her party to power and introducing 13 candidates of her party from the region, she said, “AIADMK has given prosperity to Tamil Nadu. To continue with the same, you should vote for the two leaves symbol.”

She sought an explanation from Karunanidhi who had charged the ruling party with supporting people indulging in stealing electricity. “At present, the farming sector and poor people get free power supply. So, Karunanidhi should explain whether this power supply should be stopped and the agriculture sector and poor people be left in the lurch.” 

Jayalalithaa also said that districts like Cuddalore, Ariyalur and Perambalur had improved a lot in terms of education. “There are nine elementary schools, two middle schools, 71 high schools and 25 higher secondary schools. All these schools were established in the last five years, ” she added.

She also said that Karunanidhi was well aware that his party will not win the election and this must have prompted him to insist on accepting the ‘Uday’ scheme introduced by the Central Government. She said under the scheme, power tariff should be revised once in three months and Karunanidhi alone could explain how this would benefit Tamil Nadu. 

Explaining in detail how the scheme would affect the Tamil Nadu Government, Jayalalithaa said that though it would be beneficial to the private power generators and banks, it would severely affect the Tamil Nadu government, and hence it would not be accepted.