Tamil Nadu

Uproar over frequent power shutdown

drop the cut: A section of AIADMK councillors who arrived at the council meeting on Thursday with wick lamps.

KARUR: The continuing gloom on the power front echoed in the Karur Municipal Council that met here on Thursday with the AIADMK members attending the council session with wick lamps to protest the frequent power cuts in the town.

The Karur Municipal Council met here with the Chairperson P. Sivakamasundari presiding over the session.

The vice-chairman SP. Kanagaraj and Commissioner R. Ramani were also present.

When the council session commenced chairs of AIADMK councillors in the hall were empty and half-an-hour later some filed into the hall with wick lamps in the hand. On seeing that, the DMK members including V. Kathiravan and R. Prabhu raised a hue and cry and criticized the AIADMK members for their attitude.

E. Muthusamy (AIADMK) condemning the grim power situation in the State said that contrary to the State Government’s announcements that there would be power shutdown for only restricted hours, there were several unannounced power shutdowns that had put almost all sectors in trouble besides causing inconvenience to the public.

The State Government had not taken effective steps to address the situation and stated that criticizing women for using modern electronic gadgets was nothing but hiding the facts, he added. He also said that the AIADMK was protesting such remarks against women by persons in responsible positions.

To highlight the opposition against the Government on the worsening power situation, Mr. Muthusamy and his party colleagues then staged a walkout raising slogans demanding the resignation of the DMK government for failing to address the needs of the public.

Immediately, G. Balagurubaran (DMK) sought action against Mr. Muthusamy for accusing a Minister without basis by attributing a statement purportedly carried by a section of the media. He wanted the AIADMK councillor suspended from the session if he did not withdraw his remarks or apologize for the statement.

Mrs. Sivakamasundari (DMK) seconded the opinion of her party councillor and called upon Mr. Muthusamy to explain his position. Then the AIADMK councillor clarified that there was hardly any power crisis in the previous regime. He said he only compared the situations and pointed out the current power crisis that needed to be tackled by the Government at the earliestand did not say anything against any Minister.

Upon that Mr. Kathiravan remarked that since the AIADMK councillor accepted that he did not speak accusatively of the Minister, the member could be granted pardon and the proposed action might be dropped. Then the council session proceeded to discuss and pass the items on the agenda.

Mr. Kathiravan wore a black shirt to the council meet for what he referred to as “highlighting the plight of the people and children” in his ward who were affected by torrential downpour a couple of days back.

Poor people and children in the slums were greatly hit when rainwater entered their houses and tenements in low lying areas of the town.

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