Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Stalin takes up the cause of rain-hit residents

By R.K.Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI Nov. 15. The former Mayor, M.K.Stalin, took to the streets today to protest the "rank inefficiency and callousness'' of the Chennai Corporation in responding to the needs of the rain-hit people.

Mr.Stalin, who won an unprecedented second term as city Mayor, but was unseated by a recent law enacted by the AIADMK Government, led DMK men in holding two demonstrations in the city to protest the poor civic conditions and demand compensation for those displaced by the rain and subsequent flooding, even as the Chennai Corporation stepped up its efforts to repair and rebuild the city.

The South and Central Chennai district units of the party held a demonstration at Valluvar Kottam, while the North Chennai unit organised a protest near the Memorial Hall. The DMK treasurer, N.Veerasamy, inaugurated the protests and said the Government and the Chennai Corporation failed to take action to mitigate the sufferings of residents.

Mr.Veerasamy contended that even the assistance announced by the Government was only part of the works planned during Mr. Stalin's tenure.

Mr.Stalin said people were in a better position to judge who did a better job. When the DMK was in power in the Corporation, water did not stagnate on roads during heavy rain as it happened now. This was because the party worked to a plan and had the vision to realise a Singara Chennai.

Later, partymen, led by Mr.Stalin, went to the nearby Corporation office to handover a petition on the issue of compensation and relaying of roads. As most officials had left the premises, Mr.Stalin handed over the petition to the duffedar.

The protests and the Corporation's major repairs and relaying of roads programme come at a time when the Mayoral elections are fast approaching. The dates for the elections have to be announced by the State Election Commission.

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