COVID-19: DMK demands power bill waiver, free food at Amma Canteens
Days after AIADMK party units in districts, includingCoimbatore and Salem, said they would bear the cost of freefood in Amma Canteens in their regions, the main oppositionparty flayed the government for what it called "handing overon a platter," the State-run eateries to the ruling party in"every district" and alleged it was "very bad politics."
DMK chief M K Stalin, in a statement here, asked theAIADMK to "not do politics" with Amma Canteens and insteadwanted the government to fund free food in the eateries sothat people could eat for free.
The low cost State run canteen chain, run by local bodiesin Tamil Nadu, cater largely to the working classes and theindigent.
The price of food, including idli and 'variety rice' likelemon rice, range between a Rupee and Rs five.
The Dravidian party chief said people confined to theirhomes in view of the lockdown and deprived of even minimumincome would not be able to pay their electricity bills.
Hence, he said, "waiving electricity bill for those withrice ration cards alone will be tantamount to lending a handof friendship for them by the government."
Rice ration card holders receive rice for free and otheressential commodities like cooking oil and dhal at a highlysubsidised rate.
The DMK leader also demanded that the Central governmentput on hold the collection of fee at toll plazas since takingcharges from vehicles transporting essential commodities maylead to rise in prices.
Toll plazas reportedly started collecting fee from April20 after stopping it during the first phase of lockdown. Stalin also alleged that sanitary workers in KarurGovernment Hospital were pushed to "staging protest" sincethey had not received "one month salary" and added that onlytimely remittance of salaries could be a mark of gratitude tothem who put their lives at risk in the fight againstcoronavirus. VGNAPRRAVINDRANATH VGNAPRRAVINDRANATH