Chennai: Why is it that nearly five years after the expansion of Chennai city that the Greater Chennai Corporation has not been able to take control of schools in extended areas?
This question posed by opposition councillors during the budget session of the local body did not receive a satisfactory reply from Mayor Saidai Duraisamy as the latter chose to divert blame on the erstwhile DMK-led council for the situation.
“Your party [DMK] split the wards and expanded the city but why did they not join the schools with corporation after?” asked Duraisamy to DMK floor leader S.C. Bose.
When the opposition heckled the Mayor and asked why was it that the AIADMK council sat on the topic for nearly five years, Duraisamy replied, “You [DMK] tell me your reasons for not doing it and I will tell you mine.”
“A committee has been formed to study the reasons and a report has to be submitted before action can be taken,” the Mayor added.
When news photographers entered the council hall, the Mayor, remarked, “They (DMK) were waiting for the cameras to come in.” This agitated the opposition and the Mayor warned them to “either walk out or get thrown out for disrupting proceedings.”
After the DMK councillors walked out, Duraisamy said, “These DMK councillors are walking out condemning what the previous DMK government did or failed to do.”
At this point, the lone DMDK councillor A.V. Arumugam entered into an argument with Duraisamy.
When Arumugam also pointed out that the AIADMK government would not have needed four-and-a-half-years to sort out this issue, Duraisamy replied, “This is not something that can be done in one or two months. I will answer you but please return to your seat.” Arumugam too then walked out.
