The ruling DMK, hitting out at AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami for his criticism of the state government over Amma Canteens, on Wednesday asked if he has locus standi to comment on the issue as the state-run eateries witnessed phased closure during his regime.The Dravidian party’s official Tamil organ ‘Murasoli’ said the Amma canteens are functioning well under the DMK regime, better than what it was during Palaniswami’s tenure as chief minister (2017-21).
In an editiorial, the Tamil daily said that on March 16, 2018, when Palaniswami was the chief minister, the then finance secretary had said that the CM was studying losses in running Amma Canteens and that some canteens were shut down due to losses. “During his tenure, Palaniswami, citing losses, had been closing down Amma Canteens in a phased manner. Does he have the competence to talk on Amma Canteens? the DMK daily asked.
After Chief Minister M K Stalin’s inspection of Amma Canteen here, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami had on July 20 alleged that after the DMK assumed office in May 2021, many Amma canteens were closed down.
The former CM had claimed that the quality of food was ‘brought down’ and the staff strength was reduced by one-third. He dismissed Chief Minister Stalin’s inspection of an Amma Canteen here as a mere drama. In Chennai alone, during AIADMK regime (2011-21), as many as 407 Amma canteens had been functional. Rather than increasing the number of canteens, why were about 19 canteens shut (in Chennai)? the leader of opposition had asked.
Murasoli, cited ‘praises on social media’ for Stalin for administering Amma Canteens pretty well unlike the AIADMK regime which had established them.
The DMK is a democratic party and it did not even change the name of the state-wide canteen-chain. Had late CM J Jayalalithaa been in a similar position, she would have shut down the facilities set up by an arch rival party.