If you want govt benefits, you need AIADMK card: TN Minister triggers controversy
Tamil Nadu Cooperatives Minister Sellur Raju, infamous for his 'thermacol experiment' has stoked controversy once again. Addressing members of the AIADMK in Madurai, the Minister has claimed that they can avail government benefits only if they have the party membership card.
"The AIADMK card is like our life. Every party worker must get the card. Only if you have this card, you or your family will get help from the government," said the minister. "If you want help from the government you can only do it if you have this card," he adds.
The remarks have outraged many on social media and several have questioned the high handedness of the government.
Am really tired of this guy I don't know hw his ministry officials work with him...height of nonsense
— arvindebenezer (@arvindmarcel) February 4, 2018
இவன் மேல் வழக்கு பதிந்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கலாம்,இவன் இப்படி சொல்லி இருந்தால்.அதை பண்னுங்க
— NAGARAJ RAMARAJ (@raam7890) February 4, 2018
"The minister did not mean that others won't get benefits. The message is being misconstrued," defends AIADMK spokesperson KP Palaniswami.
But that has done little to assuage the opposition. DMK MLA TRB Raja took to Twitter to vent his frustration and ask, "A minister in the TN government says that only people with ADMK membership cards will get help from Tamil Nadu government. Is this how a democracy works?"
Sellur Raju shot to fame after his decision to float thermocol sheets at the Vaigai Dam in Madurai to prevent water loss due to evaporation in April last year.
நடந்துகொண்டிருக்கும் உண்மையை ஒப்புக்கொண்ட தெர்மோகோல் ராஜு அவர்களுக்கு நன்றி.இதுதான் ஜனநாயகமா
— T R B Rajaa (@TRBRajaa) February 4, 2018
A Minister in the #TNGovt says that ONLY people with Admk Membership cards will get help from the #tamilnadu government, IS THIS HOW A DEMOCRACY WORKS ? #ShamelessAdmk #TNPoliticshttps://t.co/6ZTzkk3xoL
The minister had said that as the region is experiencing one of the worst droughts in 142 years, every attempt is being made to conserve water.
He had claimed that the method of using thermocol sheets to reduce evaporation has been tried in foreign countries and private water bodies. To make matters worse, he said Rs 10 lakh had apparently been set aside for the project.
The colossal 'waste of money' caused huge uproar in the state at a time when the AIADMK leadership was already experiencing several divisions within its ranks.