Vijay’s opposition to Parandur Airport project an attempt to cheat farmers: DMK

Chennai, Aug 25 (IANS) Reacting to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s announcement that he would seek to withdraw the proposed Parandur airport project and explore alternative sites, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan on Tuesday accused him of attempting to cheat the farmers.

Speaking to IANS, Elangovan said the area identified for the Parandur airport was witnessing rapid industrial growth and that the project would contribute significantly to the state’s economy and employment generation.

“The area where the Parandur airport is proposed is an industrially growing region. Many industries are coming up in that area. The airport will definitely support the state’s economy and provide employment opportunities for young people. But if they want to stop the Parandur airport, there is only one reason: he wants to cheat the farmers. In several areas, the promises made for the welfare of farmers have not been fulfilled,” Elangovan said.

Reacting to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) announcement of a peaceful march in Delhi on September 5 over the Centre’s allegedly unfulfilled promises, Elangovan launched a sharp attack on the BJP.

“The BJP is anti-democratic. They do not follow the Constitution. The Constitution gives citizens the right to agitate for a legitimate cause. But the BJP will not allow it. They do not care about the law or the Constitution,” he alleged.

He said citizens have the constitutional right to protest against the government’s actions.

“It is the citizens who elect the government, but after electing it, they cannot be expected to remain silent about its wrongdoings,” he added.

On the notice reportedly issued to former diplomat Navdeep Suri regarding his voter details during the Punjab Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Elangovan questioned why the former diplomat was being asked to establish his citizenship.

“When he has worked for the Indian government and represented India in foreign affairs, what more does he have to prove? What evidence does he have to provide to establish that he is an Indian?” Elangovan asked.

Commenting on reports of the BJP contesting the upcoming Punjab elections independently, he said, “Let us wait and see. The BJP can plan anything.”

Elangovan also made allegations regarding electoral practices, claiming that the party engaged in activities aimed at undermining democracy.

On the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) reported direction to Karnataka to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, Elangovan said Karnataka was bound to comply with the directions of the Cauvery tribunal.

“The Supreme Court has ordered Karnataka to abide by the tribunal’s directions. That will have to happen; otherwise, the Supreme Court will view the matter seriously,” he said.

–IANS

jk/mr