Will always stand by you: Jayalalithaa tells flood-hit people

Amidst mounting opposition attack over her government on handling of the northeast monsoon, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today sought to assure the people that she would stand by with them at all times and that there was no need for concern.

Calling herself a "dear sister" of the people, the AIADMK supremo said that her thoughts constantly revolved around them.

"I will be with you at any time; don't worry," she said in a party statement.

The opposition parties including DMK had been critical of the ruling AIADMK's handling of the northeast monsoon, particularly training their guns against the government over the discharge of excess water from Chembarambakkam reservoir into Adyar river, claiming it had flooded the city.

They had alleged red-tapism on the issue with DMK knocking the doors of Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah with a plea for a judicial probe into the matter even as others like CPI (M) and PMK have also been demanding an inquiry commission to probe the matter.

The government had on its part denied any wrongdoing with the Chief Secretary K Gnanadesikan rejecting "malicious" the allegations by opposition that officers were awaiting Jayalalithaa's approval for releasing excess water.

Jayalalithaa, who thanked all those who were involved in the flood-relief activities with "selfless" dedication, said AIADMK MLAs and MPs will contribute their one month's salary towards flood relief activities.

The AIADMK has 150 MLAs in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly and 49 MPs in both Houses of Parliament.

Jayalalithaa described the recent deluge which claimed over 300 lives and left a train of destruction as "rarest of the rare" and also thanked all those who involved themselves in flood-relief activities.

She said that her government was expeditiously carrying out flood-relief activities.