Bring down the building material prices: S Mahalingam

Chennai, Apr 30 (UNI) Members of the Tamilaga Kattita Thozhilalargal Pothunala Mathiya Munnetra Sangam led by their State President Nellai S Mahalingam staged a slogan shouting demonstration here today.

In a statement here, Mr Mahalingam said their demands included bringing down the price hike of the building materials as it would affect the day-to-day life of the building workers, free house site pattas to relax the existing conditions for availing the pension for the building workers for all the eligible building workers, and enhancing the pension amount from Rs 400 to 1000 and ESI medical facility for them.

He said similar demonstrations were also held at Villupuram, Salem, Theni, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari districts.

Inaugurating the demonstration, Presidium chairman (AIADMK) E Madhusudhanan criticised the inefficiency of both the Centre and State governments which was the reason for the soaring price on the building materials. During the AIADMK regime, the price of the cement was well controlled and a bag of cement was sold at only Rs 135. The Present Government has a secret deal with the cement manufacturers and allowed them to increase the price of the cement as per their wish, resulting in Rs 265 per bag, he added.

President of the Tamil Manila Muslim League S Sheik Dawood, State President of the Indian farmers and toilers party Vettavalam K Manikandan, supported the cause for the building workers.

UNI