VIRUDHUNAGAR: Highlighting the ganja menace in the State, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday said he would eradicate it completely in three months if voted to power.
Campaigning in Sivakasi for AIADMK candidate KT Rajenthra Bhalaji, he alleged police could not eradicate the menace because those selling ganja were DMK supporters due to which police could not take action. "Even police personnel are not safe, they are being attacked by those under the influence of the substance," he said.
Displaying a T-shirt bearing slogans such as "We are scared to step out of our homes," and "Only an AIADMK government can ensure safety" Palaniswami said it was given to him by young girls when he stepped out of his hotel to attend the campaign venue.
He further said action would be initiated against officials or ministers in the Urban Development and Water Supply Departments who are under the ED lens once AIADMK returns to power.
He accused the DMK government of shelving the Cauvery-Gundar link scheme, which was introduced during the AIADMK regime to transform arid regions such as Virudhunagar into fertile land. "A sum of Rs 14,000 crore was allocated for the project, but the DMK government has shelved it. The scheme would be revived once AIADMK returns to power," he said.
He further took a dig at the DMK government, alleging that it had not established even a single government medical college during its five-year tenure whereas 11 medical colleges were set up during the AIADMK regime.
Highlighting the importance of the firecracker industry in the region, Palaniswami said the AIADMK government had taken steps to support the sector during difficult times. He assured that further measures would be taken to safeguard the industry if the party comes back to power.