By Shafee Ahmed Ko, TwoCircles.net,
Chennai: Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) has termed the Tamilnadu Governor’s speech in the state assembly today as disappointing because it has little for minorities and farmers.
“The Governor Surjitsing Barnala’s address to Tamilnadu Assembly is disappointing,” said P. Abdul Samad, General Secretary of MMK. “Nothing beneficial to the minorities in the address,” he said, except the three items such as payment of tuition fees in professional colleges for students who do not have a single graduate in their families, a Rs.50 per quintal hike in procurement price of paddy and a reduction in number of years in residence for a house patta.
Mr.Samad reiterated that the farmers’ rights are subjugated by introduction of genetically aided farming system and the Governor’s address is silent on this particular subject. Mr. Samad also wondered on the information that TN government has spent Rs.792 crores on renovation of hospitals during the last three and half years, as per the accounts from the Governor’s address. On the other hand, the liquor sales has filled the state coffers to the tune of Rs.13000 crores.
“Even 10% of the exchequer from the liquor sale has not been allotted to the renovations of the hospitals” lamented Mr. Samad. Among the various criticism leveled by Mr.Samad, the hard hit was the free sale of liquors.