AIADMK is anti-people and anti-farmer, says Sonia Gandhi

Alleges industries migrating to other states and youth are jobless in Tamil Nadu

Congress president Sonia Gandhi today came down heavily on the ruling AIADMK government calling it anti-people and anti-farmer by not lending helping hand in times of need.

She was addressing an election rally, sharing the dais with DMK President M Karunanidhi in Chennai today.

Gandhi claimed the state government nor the AIADMK party came to help the people when the city faced floods. "It was the people who helped each other," she said.

Gandhi also said contrary to the assurance given by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that flood insurance claims will be settled in four weeks time, they are still pending to be settled by the insurers.

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According to Gandhi, development in Tamil Nadu has come to an end whereas under the DMK rule several new industries had been set up. She said under AIADMK rule, many industries are migrating to other states and the youth are jobless in the state.

Gandhi charged AIADMK of anti-farmer as it supported an amendment to the land acquisition law that enables government to acquire the land without the farmer's permission. She also hit out at the BJP run central government saying that it has reduced financial allocation to social welfare schemes.

Congress and DMK have joined hands for the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. It was agreed that Congress will contest in 41 constituencies during the upcoming assembly election in Tamil Nadu.

It may be noted, after joining hands for 2004 Lok Sabha polls, DMK had walked out of the Congress-led UPA in 2013. Congress had contested 63 seats in the 2011 elections in alliance with the DMK.