Chennai: Thousands of DMK cadre and functionaries, including party Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, were arrested throughout the state on Monday for holding protest demonstrations demanding proper supply of essential commodities in PDS shops.
Party working president M.K. Stalin said about five lakh party members were arrested showing the arrogant attitude of the state government. He met the arrested party leaders and cadres, kept in marriage halls in the city told reporters that about 200 to over 1,000 party activists took part in protest before every shop. The protests were held in front of 20,000 shops and the people especially women also voluntarily joined the agitation.
Addressing the protesters at Royapattah, Kanimozhi said the AIADMK government is showing more concern in TASMAC sales than providing essential commodities in PDS outlets.
The TASMAC website clearly indicates the list of items available in shops, but the PDS websites did not have the details of commodities provided to the people, clearly indicating the priority of the government. She also said the quality of rice provided in the ration shops is very poor, she said.
The AIADMK is focusing its attention on safeguarding its MLAs, she said and predicted early Assembly elections in the state. To a question on AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran’s comments that 15 DMK MLAs would cross over to the AIADMK, she said not a single cadre of the party would defect to the AIADMK. She also asserted that the DMK would win the RK Nagar bypolls.
