Vijay also recalled a slice of history connected to the late M G Ramachandran (MGR) and Puducherry
Chennai: Accusing the BJP of neglecting the Union Territory of Puducherry and the Union Government of denying Statehood to it despite the Assembly passing 16 resolutions seeking it, president of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) said that there had been no attempt so far to set up an IT company or reopen the five mills that closed down or economically develop its enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
Speaking at the first campaign rally of his party organized after its previous meeting at Karur on September 27 ended in a stampede that took a toll of 41 lives, Vijay said that he would not let down Puducherry that had stood by him for 30 years and pointed out how the Union Territory had been treated by the Union Government by not even including it in the Union Finance Commission.
Despite the Union Territory having a population of 20 lakh, fund allocation was being done randomly and not by following the criteria adopted for revenue sharing with the States or Union Territories, he regretted and promised a slew of measures like devising schemes to make its economy self-reliant and turning Puducherry into a leading industrial hub.
Listing out the present woes of the people of the Union Territory, he said Karaikal, the tail end region of the Cauvery delta had been totally ignored, Puducherry, a prime tourist spot, lacked adequate parking facility and public toilets and the long-time demand for a railway line connection through Cuddlalore had not been looked it.
However, he cautioned the people of the Union Territory against believing the DMK and said that the party was known for cheating the people and giving them promises. To implement the schemes suggested by him, support – apparently that of the Union Government - was essential and the Union Territory should not be neglected the manner in which Tamil Nadu was now, he said.
Once he came to power he would put an end to borrowing by the Union Territory to meet its expenses, ensure that the public distribution system was regulated for the people to get their essential commodities like rice, sugar, dhal, oil and wheat without hassles and stop the frequent arrest of fishermen from Karaikal by the Sri Lankan Navy as it caused enormous hardship to them, he said.
Vijay also recalled a slice of history connected to the late M G Ramachandran (MGR) and Puducherry. Though MGR formed his government in Tamil Nadu only in 1977, his rule was established in Puducherry in 1974 itself, he said, adding that the Union Territory was thus a precursor to the MGR regime.
