AIADMK hands over aid to freedom fighter

Chennai, Aug 16 (UNI) A day after AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa announced an assistance of Rs one lakh to the family of Ariyalur-based Freedom Fighter Subramaniam, party office bearers called on him and handed over the amount today.

Ms Jayalalithaa had announced the assistance yesterday after accusing the DMK Government of rejecting his pension plea.

As directed by Ms Jayalalithaa, MGR Youth Wing Secretary N R Sivapathy and Ariyalur District Secretary R Ilavarasan called on Mr Subramaniam at his village in Muthuservamadam and presented Rs one lakh, a party release here said.

As ordered by Ms Jayalalithaa, Party Headquarters Secretary K A Sengottaiyan and Jayalalithaa Peravai Secretary N Dalawaisundaram visited Mr Subramaniam yesterday and euqired about his health, the release said.

Mr Subramaniam thanked Ms Jayalalithaa for the timely assistance, it added.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, denying Ms Jayalalithaa's charge, said Mr Subramaniam had applied for pension only during the previous Jayalalithaa Government which failed to take any action.

The freedom fighter had applied for pension in 2002 but the AIADMK Government, till 2006, when it went out of power, did not take any final decision, he claimed.

Only after the DMK came to power, the freedom fighter was asked to approach the district collector.

But the district administration, in the absence of certificate regarding Mr Subramaniam's imprisonment during the freedom struggle, did not recommend his case to the governemnt, Mr Karunanidhi said.

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