MADURAI: Continuing his tirade against arch rival and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today asked her to respond to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar's criticism of the AIADMK government, including not opting for central schemes.
"Javadekar had said Tamil Nadu government was interested in protecting those who pilfered electricity and this is not a political allegation but one made directly against the government.
"Chief Minister Jayalalithaa must respond to this and should not ignore the allegation or refrain from giving an explanation to people," he said.
Asserting that the people of Tamil Nadu were "frustrated" with the administrations of both AIADMK and DMK, BJP leader Prakash Javadekar today promised speedy development of the state if his party was voted to power in the May 16 Assembly polls.
"People of Tamil Nadu are frustrated and vexed with the maladministration of both AIADMK and DMK (the latter was in power earlier). They are stressing on the need for an alternative for development of the state. They want a change of government in Tamil Nadu," he told reporters here.
The BJP would bring the change the people expect and take the state to the path of development, he said. When the Centre had a scheme to mine sand without affecting the environment, the Tamil Nadu government was not following it, he alleged.
"Both AIADMK and DMK men own liquor factories and people are aware of it. Liquor ruined the people and the state," he added.
In a statement titled 'Will Chief Minister Jayalalithaa respond at least to the allegations of Union Minister Javadekar', Karunanidhi also cited the Union Minister's remarks on a report on Western Ghats and LED bulbs.
Javadekar had said yesterday that he failed to understand why Tamil Nadu had not taken up the central scheme of UJALA (Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All), which he said had resulted in price of LED bulbs coming down.
Further, the Minister had also pointed out that AIADMK government had not opted for UDAY, aimed at ensuring a turnaround of 'discoms' (power distribution companies) and bring them out of debt.
He said the state government was yet to submit a report on an environmental issue over the Kasturirangan report, vis-a-vis Western Ghats with the rest of the states concerned--Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala having submitted the reports.
Citing all these issues, Karunanidhi sought the Chief Minister's direct response even as he said her cabinet colleagues, O Panneerselvam and Natham R Viswanathan, had come out with "wishy-washy response" to Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal's "Jayalalithaa is inaccessible" remarks.
Karunanidhi had earlier hit out at Jayalalithaa, saying she should have answered him (Goyal) directly rather than her ministerial colleagues pitching in for the same.