DMK govt. trying to save Madurai Mayor in property tax scam, says Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami accused the DMK government of attempting to protect Mayor Indrani Pon Vasanth in the multi-crore property tax scam of Madurai Corporation.

Addressing a well-attended public gathering at his ‘Makkalai Kaappom, Thamilagathai Meetpom’ campaign in Tiruparankundram on Monday, Mr Palaniswami pointed to the alleged ₹200-crore property tax scandal in which a few retired and serving officials of the Corporation have been arrested.

“Even Mayor Indrani’s husband Pon Vasanth was arrested. The Mayor should have been arrested. How can Pon Vasanth indulge in irregularities in Madurai Corporation without the cooperation of the Mayor?,” Mr. Palaniswamy questioned. Without the Mayor’s instruction, the irregularities could not have happened, he said.

Stating that the DMK government was trying to save the Mayor, Mr. Palaniswami said it was staging a drama by arresting others. The AIADMK, after coming back to power in the State, would order a thorough probe into the property tax scam and initiate legal action against everyone involved in it, he said.

Charging that corruption was prevalent not only in Madurai Corporation but also in other local bodies in the State, he said due to in-fighting among the DMK councillors of those cities in sharing the money made through corrupt practices, the councillors of the ruling party had moved no-confidence motions against Mayors elected by their own party,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

Tirupparankundram MLA V.V. Rajan Chellappa was present.

Later, he addressed a massive crowd in Tirumangalam Assembly constituency, in the presence of MLA R.B. Udhayakumar.

Mr. Palaniswami recalled the AIADMK government’s initiatives for promoting agriculture and farmers’ welfare during natural calamities. The AIADMK government had waived farm loans twice. Besides, it had given compensation under crop insurance scheme to the farmers during floods and droughts, he added.

The free goat and milch animal scheme benefited a number of the farmers. The AIADMK government had opened new government schools to benefit the students. But, the DMK government closed down 207 schools in the last four years, he said.

The DMK which promised in its Assembly election manifesto to increase the number of job days from 100 to 150 days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, could only reduce it to 50. Besides, the poor workers were not paid the wages properly, he added.