Stalin should be credited with turning Tamil Nadu into a top debtor, says EPS

Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday said that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin should be credited for turning Tamil Nadu into a top debtor State in the country with around ₹4.38 lakh crore borrowed during four years of the DMK’s reign.

Addressing a public gathering here as part of his State-wide tour, Mr. Palaniswami said that the DMK-led government has borrowed from various multi-financial institutions for Tamil Nadu since the party came to power in May 2021. With this, the total debt of the State stood at over ₹9.4 lakh crore. “By 2026 polls, Tamil Nadu’s total borrowings during the DMK regime could touch ₹5.38 lakh crore - an increase of ₹one lakh crore more. The entire debt burden lies on the people of the State,” he claimed. 

The AIADMK leader said that the inordinate delay in making a list of senior police officers to become the next Director-General of Police (DGP) reflects the administrative ineffectiveness of the bureaucracy in preparing a list of candidates to become the next police chief. A clear set of guidelines has been laid out for the selection of the next police chief. However, the State government has not shown any keen interest in the selection process despite incumbent DGP (Mr. Shankar Jiwal) retiring by August 31, he said.

The former Chief Minister also alleged that illegal sand mining in the Palar river is rampant, with loads of river sand transported to neighbouring States, using arterial stretches. Government officials and police should take stringent action against such illegal sand mining, Mr. Palaniswami said.

Highlighting lawlessness in the State, Mr. Palaniswami blamed the DMK government for not allowing Tamil Nadu police to function in a free and fair manner. As a result, criminals have lost fear of police personnel and have dared to murder them. Easy availability of drugs and other banned substances in the State also contributes to rising incidents of crime against women and children, he alleged.