Chennai: The Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK government
on Thursday underlined its determination to act against land grab
cases, in which connection many DMK functionaries have been
jailed, assuring victims their "lost property" would be
reclaimed.
"Since May 2011, 2,491 complaints (on land grab) have been
received by the special cells.We will continue to act against
such land-grabbers and ensure return of such lands to the
rightful owners," Finance Minister O Panneerselvam said,
presenting the Tamil Nadu budget for the year 2011-12 here.
He said affected people who have "lost their property"
could be assured that they would get back the property.
The provisions he made under Law and Order segment in the
first full-fledged Budget of the year came even as DMK earlier
staged a walkout, claiming police was "foisting" cases against
its functionaries.
DMK senior leaders including former Ministers Veerapandi S
Arumugam and NKKP Raja, Chepauk MLA J Anbazhagan, senior
leader Kalaivanan and some aides of Union Minister M K Alagiri
have been jailed on land grab charges, which party leader M
Karunanidhi and his son among others have described as
"vendetta politics."
DMK has been protesting against this, demanding to know why
the Jayalalithaa government was not taking action on AIADMK
men against whom similar complaints had been filed.
Panneerselvam assured that the government was committed to
taking strong action against criminals and anti-social
elements to ensure peace and added that police would be
allowed to discharge their duties freely and effectively to
instill confidence in the minds of the public.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, August 04, 2011, 14:51