AIADMK slams DMK on freebies

Chennai, Feb 10 (PTI) The Opposition AIADMK today slammedthe ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu for its freebies, especially theColour TV scheme, and wondered what social justice had theyensured as claimed by the DMK.

Participating in the debate on the interim budget, DeputyLeader of the AIADMK Legislature, O Panneerselvam said thegovernment had spent around Rs 4000 crore on the freecolour TV scheme and asked if this was a useful investment.

"What social justice has this ensured," he said even as thegovernment sought an additional Rs 258.22 crore towards thescheme under its final supplementary estimates for 2010-11.

PMK founder Ramadoss, besides the AIADMK, has been opposedto the freebies of the DMK, saying focus should be onemployment-generation.

Panneerselvam, also a former Chief Minster, charged thestate government with failing to act effectively oninter-state water issues including the Mullaperiyar Damstand-off with Kerala.

Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi intervened and said thestate was making efforts to move the Supreme Court againstKerala''s reported announcement that it would go ahead with theconstruction of a new dam on Mullaperiyar in place of theexisting one this year itself.

The Supreme Court empowered committee appointed to examinethe safety aspects of the dam has inspected it three times andis yet to submit the report, Ponmudi added.