EPS promises `5 lakh each for jallikattu events

Pudukottai: Once AIADMK comes to power, the govt will provide 5 lakh for each jallikattu event conducted with due permission, party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Wednesday. Addressing supporters during his election campaign in Pudukottai, EPS said that in addition to the 5 lakh grant, the govt would provide 10 lakh as compensation if any participant loses life after being hit by a bull."If any registered participant is injured, insurance coverage will be arranged, with the entire cost borne by the govt," he said. EPS then hit out at DMK president M K Stalin for claiming that Tamil Nadu is in a peaceful state. "Stalin runs the govt based on what officials tell him. Law and order is in a bad state, with not a day passing without incidents of murder, theft, or sexual assault. This is happening due to the rampant spread of drugs like ganja, which is leading to a rise in crime. The govt is not taking action to curb it because those backing the trade belong to the ruling party," he alleged.He further claimed that every department in the govt is riddled with corruption, and assured that action would be taken once AIADMK returns to power. EPS alleged that DMK, created by Anna, is now Karunanidhi family's party. "It is no longer a political party but a corporate company," he said. Earlier in Sivaganga, EPS sought to counter DMK's criticism of AIADMK's alliance with BJP by displaying a photograph of former chief minister M Karunanidhi and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. "Stalin claims Edappadi Palaniswami has become a ‘sanghi'. Was Karunanidhi a ‘sanghi'? With whom did he have an alliance? Murasoli Maran is also in the photograph— was he a ‘sanghi'? Recently, there were issues within Congress-DMK alliance, and Kanimozhi travelled to Delhi to address them. Does that mean she is a ‘sanghi," he asked. Accusing Stalin of making baseless allegations, EPS said, "Driven by the fear of defeat, you have clung to Congress party, begging to form an alliance."