Chennai, Aug 18:
The Communist Party of India (CPI), which extends outside support to the Vijay-led TVK government, has stepped up pressure on the ruling dispensation to tackle the growing drug menace in Tamil Nadu.
CPI state secretary M Veerapandian on Monday said the TVK government had a greater responsibility to curb drug use and called for collective efforts to address the problem.
Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore on the sidelines of a protest, Veerapandian also expressed concern over the law-and-order situation. Clarifying that the CPI was not part of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam alliance, he said the party had extended support to TVK only to prevent the possibility of President’s Rule.
“Our party would never seek ministerial positions. Regardless of how many political fronts emerge in Tamil Nadu, the BJP should never come to power in the State,” he said.
On allegations that ministers were receiving commissions, Veerapandian said wrongdoing should be condemned irrespective of who was involved. However, he said allegations could not be treated as established facts unless proved legally.
Condemning the killing of three Tamil-origin persons by the forest department in Karnataka, he sought appropriate compensation for their families. He also demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the Cauvery dispute and Karnataka’s proposal to construct a dam at Mekedatu.
Earlier, the CPI staged a protest outside the Coimbatore district Collectorate, led by Veerapandian. The party demanded desilting of the Siruvani and Pilloor reservoirs, implementation of the Pandiyar-Punnampuzha and Anamalaiyar-Nallaar irrigation projects, widening of the Neelambur-Madukkarai bypass and establishment of a separate mechanism to address the region’s infrastructure and water-related concerns.