Thalapathi M.K. Stalin, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, on Jun 22 urged the government to usher in transparency in governance and administration.
Speaking on the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address, Stalin said the election verdict meant people expect more from the government and the mandate for the DMK is to monitor the government. He said the difference between ADMK and DMK in the Assembly elections was very small.
To start with, the Assembly proceedings should be broadcast live as people should know the happenings in the House. Transparency should be the hallmark of administration also. The Agriculture Department should publish the list of beneficiaries in the waiver of farm loans on its website. Co-operation Minister Sellur K. Raju assured to do so in time.
Like farmers, Stalin said milk producers had also given him representation saying 20 per cent of the milk was being rejected by Aavin. Responding to it, Dairy Development Minister S.P. Shanmuganathan said the milk produced by the members of the society was all procured and only the lesser quality from the traders was rejected.
Producing a bill of commodities purchased at Amudham stores, Stalin informed the House how the prices of toor dhal, uradh dhal, gingelly oil and few other essential commodities had gone up by over hundred per cent in the past five years. In reply, Food Minister R. Kamaraj recalled the efforts taken by the government to control inflation.
Stalin started off his speech with price rise narrating his purchase of groceries in a Kamadhenu store on Anna Salai. “A comparison of the price of dal varieties and oil between 2011and 2016 shows many of them have increased by more than 100%. Middle class families have been affected due to the continuous increase in prices of essential commodities and what measures has the government taken to contain price rise?“ he asked. Immediately, more than three Ministers stood up to counter Stalin’s claim.
As the Minister took plenty of time to reply and began explaining about the ‘Amma’ brand of welfare schemes, the DMK MLAs objected to it and the Speaker, after a bit of commotion, asked the Ministers to reply in short and to the point.
Stalin charged that the arrears of Rs. 1,167 crore of post-matric scholarship from Centre were pending as the State government had not sent the utilisation certificate. After a while, when Adi Dravidar Minister V.M. Rajalakshmi wanted to reply, the Speaker asked her to sit down and said that she could reply later.
Noting that the December 2105 floods had wreaked havoc on the city, Stalin said the government should undertake schemes on a fast-track mode to ensure that such devastation does not recur. “The DMK MLAs in the city will co-operate fully,” he promised. He also sought the government to help the MSME sector affected by the flood for which the Minister concerned gave a lengthy reply detailing the steps.
Reiterating his demand for total transparency, Stalin asked the government to appoint and transfer teachers in a transparent manner.
Stalin on demanded the formation of Lokayukta in the State with powers to enquire into complaints against Chief Minister and other Ministers, besides transparency in governance.
The people had given such a verdict as they want the opposition party to monitor the government’s actions.
Stalin welcomed the Governor’s demand for a fair share of tax revenues for the State government and making Tamil as one of the official languages at the Centre and one of the languages in the Madras high court. He demanded that all loans obtained by all farmers should be waived.
However, Co-operatives Minister K. Raju said the ADMK had promised to waive the loan of small and marginal farmers and the poll promise had been fulfilled. Stalin said the details of waiver for farmers should he put in the website.
He charged that the government was refusing to procure milk produced by manufacturers. However, dairy development minister Shanmuganathan said some vendors were trying to sell low quality milk which could not be bought by government.
When Stalin listed the price of essential commodities and appealed to the government to control the spiralling prices, food minister R. Kamaraj said 20 kg of rice was being given freely, while pulses were being sold at Rs 30 per kg and palmolein at Rs 25 per kg through special PDS schemes.
The government was selling vegetables cheaply through farm outlets, besides giving cheap food at Amma canteens, selling Amma water at low price, and medicines at lower prices through Amma pharmacies.
State Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam, who intervened, recalled the answer by Minister K. Ponmudy during the DMK rule to a question on price rise. Quoting Ponmudy, he said prices would be going up all the time, but people’s income had increased.
The Food Minister said the State government is spending Rs 24,600 crore as food subsidy and this was a major step to control prices of essential commodities.
Stalin demanded a white paper on the new companies that are coming up and asked the government to put them in government website. He also wanted the government to control the activities of hired gangs, besides seeking early completion of flood protection schemes for the city.
To provide a transparent administration, the government should come forward to set up a Lokayukta immediately without waiting for the amendments in Parliament, Stalin said.
According to the Lokpal 2013 Bill, the States can establish a Lokayukta on their own and there was no need for Parliamentary amendment. The Lokayukta should have powers to try all categories of public servants, including the Chief Minister, he said.
White Paper: Stalin also demanded a White Paper on investments and progress made in the MoUs signed at the Global Investors Meet as the Chief Minister had said that the State had attracted Rs 2.42 lakh crore of investments during the event. M.C. Sampath, Industries Minister, assured him that there will not be any lapse as there is continuity in the government.
Stalin started his speech at 12.45 and ended at 2.59 pm speaking for 134 minutes amidst din and shouting and interventions.
Speaking on the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address, Stalin said the election verdict meant people expect more from the government and the mandate for the DMK is to monitor the government. He said the difference between ADMK and DMK in the Assembly elections was very small.
To start with, the Assembly proceedings should be broadcast live as people should know the happenings in the House. Transparency should be the hallmark of administration also. The Agriculture Department should publish the list of beneficiaries in the waiver of farm loans on its website. Co-operation Minister Sellur K. Raju assured to do so in time.
Like farmers, Stalin said milk producers had also given him representation saying 20 per cent of the milk was being rejected by Aavin. Responding to it, Dairy Development Minister S.P. Shanmuganathan said the milk produced by the members of the society was all procured and only the lesser quality from the traders was rejected.
Producing a bill of commodities purchased at Amudham stores, Stalin informed the House how the prices of toor dhal, uradh dhal, gingelly oil and few other essential commodities had gone up by over hundred per cent in the past five years. In reply, Food Minister R. Kamaraj recalled the efforts taken by the government to control inflation.
Stalin started off his speech with price rise narrating his purchase of groceries in a Kamadhenu store on Anna Salai. “A comparison of the price of dal varieties and oil between 2011and 2016 shows many of them have increased by more than 100%. Middle class families have been affected due to the continuous increase in prices of essential commodities and what measures has the government taken to contain price rise?“ he asked. Immediately, more than three Ministers stood up to counter Stalin’s claim.
As the Minister took plenty of time to reply and began explaining about the ‘Amma’ brand of welfare schemes, the DMK MLAs objected to it and the Speaker, after a bit of commotion, asked the Ministers to reply in short and to the point.
Stalin charged that the arrears of Rs. 1,167 crore of post-matric scholarship from Centre were pending as the State government had not sent the utilisation certificate. After a while, when Adi Dravidar Minister V.M. Rajalakshmi wanted to reply, the Speaker asked her to sit down and said that she could reply later.
Noting that the December 2105 floods had wreaked havoc on the city, Stalin said the government should undertake schemes on a fast-track mode to ensure that such devastation does not recur. “The DMK MLAs in the city will co-operate fully,” he promised. He also sought the government to help the MSME sector affected by the flood for which the Minister concerned gave a lengthy reply detailing the steps.
Reiterating his demand for total transparency, Stalin asked the government to appoint and transfer teachers in a transparent manner.
Stalin on demanded the formation of Lokayukta in the State with powers to enquire into complaints against Chief Minister and other Ministers, besides transparency in governance.
The people had given such a verdict as they want the opposition party to monitor the government’s actions.
Stalin welcomed the Governor’s demand for a fair share of tax revenues for the State government and making Tamil as one of the official languages at the Centre and one of the languages in the Madras high court. He demanded that all loans obtained by all farmers should be waived.
However, Co-operatives Minister K. Raju said the ADMK had promised to waive the loan of small and marginal farmers and the poll promise had been fulfilled. Stalin said the details of waiver for farmers should he put in the website.
He charged that the government was refusing to procure milk produced by manufacturers. However, dairy development minister Shanmuganathan said some vendors were trying to sell low quality milk which could not be bought by government.
When Stalin listed the price of essential commodities and appealed to the government to control the spiralling prices, food minister R. Kamaraj said 20 kg of rice was being given freely, while pulses were being sold at Rs 30 per kg and palmolein at Rs 25 per kg through special PDS schemes.
The government was selling vegetables cheaply through farm outlets, besides giving cheap food at Amma canteens, selling Amma water at low price, and medicines at lower prices through Amma pharmacies.
State Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam, who intervened, recalled the answer by Minister K. Ponmudy during the DMK rule to a question on price rise. Quoting Ponmudy, he said prices would be going up all the time, but people’s income had increased.
The Food Minister said the State government is spending Rs 24,600 crore as food subsidy and this was a major step to control prices of essential commodities.
Stalin demanded a white paper on the new companies that are coming up and asked the government to put them in government website. He also wanted the government to control the activities of hired gangs, besides seeking early completion of flood protection schemes for the city.
To provide a transparent administration, the government should come forward to set up a Lokayukta immediately without waiting for the amendments in Parliament, Stalin said.
According to the Lokpal 2013 Bill, the States can establish a Lokayukta on their own and there was no need for Parliamentary amendment. The Lokayukta should have powers to try all categories of public servants, including the Chief Minister, he said.
White Paper: Stalin also demanded a White Paper on investments and progress made in the MoUs signed at the Global Investors Meet as the Chief Minister had said that the State had attracted Rs 2.42 lakh crore of investments during the event. M.C. Sampath, Industries Minister, assured him that there will not be any lapse as there is continuity in the government.
Stalin started his speech at 12.45 and ended at 2.59 pm speaking for 134 minutes amidst din and shouting and interventions.
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