DMK alliance to stage State-wide demonstration against Centre on March 15

The parties in the Secular Progressive Alliance led by the ruling DMK on Friday announced the combine would stage demonstrations in all districts across the State against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre for “withholding funds to Tamil Nadu” under various schemes and for failing to take precautionary measures anticipating a shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

In a joint statement, the alliance partners said due to the “flawed” foreign policy of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and its failure to take precautionary measures, there is a shortage of cooking gas cylinders across the country. This situation has caused severe hardship to the public, as restaurants and commercial establishments are facing difficulties to function normally.

Since Tamil Nadu has a strong industrial base with numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), they are likely to face a severe impact. Despite Chief Minister M.K. Stalin writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking immediate action, the NDA government has failed to take appropriate steps to allay public fears and restore normalcy, the statement said.

Further, the Centre has withheld funds due to Tamil Nadu under various schemes and has not given approval for the Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail projects and the Hosur airport project. It has also refused to accept the findings of the Keezhadi excavation, the statement added.

Meanwhile, DMK general secretary Duraimurugan, in a separate statement, said the party’s district secretaries meeting would be held on March 16 at 10.30 a.m. at Anna Arivalayam, the party headquarters.