Chennai, Jan 12: In a recent development, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has urged the state government to release a comprehensive white paper detailing the industries that have initiated operations following Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed during the Global Investors Meet (GIM). Palaniswami criticized the DMK for allegedly evading the issuance of white papers on the investments generated through GIMs, claiming that the AIADMK had successfully attracted an impressive investment of Rs 3.5 lakh crore through 304 MoUs in 2015.Highlighting the purported success of the AIADMK’s GIM initiatives, Palaniswami emphasized the creation of both direct and indirect employment, with five lakh jobs generated directly and an additional five lakh jobs indirectly.
However, the former chief minister criticized the current government, accusing it of conducting GIMs for mere publicity. This call for transparency sheds light on the importance of accountability in showcasing the outcomes of these significant investment events.
Palaniswami did not limit his criticism to economic matters; he also addressed concerns related to the transport sector. Expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the transport staff’s demands, he highlighted a drastic reduction in the number of operational buses from 22,000 to a mere 16,000. He claimed that over 5,000 buses are non-functional and parked in depots, emphasizing the government’s failure to address basic transportation needs.
Furthermore, Palaniswami accused the DMK government of failing to fulfill promises made in its policy note, specifically regarding the purchase of electric-powered and diesel-powered buses. He asserted that the government did not acquire the promised 500 electric buses over the last three years and neglected to purchase 3,613 diesel-powered buses.
The AIADMK leader also criticized the government’s decision to limit free travel for women to pink-painted buses, contrasting it with the earlier promise of free travel in all buses made ahead of the polls. Palaniswami characterized this deviation from promises as a typical move by the DMK.