DMK working president M.K. Stalin wondered what happened to the Rs.450 crores allotted to the Public Works Department. He also demanded a ‘White Paper’ on the entire episode.

Speaking to newsmen in Perambur yesterday, Stalin described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unscheduled meeting with his father and party president M. Karunanidhi as just a ‘courtesy call’. “Political compulsions or factors need not be drawn into the meeting,” he told the press.

Launching a stinging attack on the EPS-OPS-led AIADMK regime in the State, he said “Ministers of the State Cabinet are keen only in taking kickbacks/commissions and aren’t paying attention to meet people’s needs. The Govt. doesn’t appear to be keen in conduction local body polls. It has also not given adequate compensation to the flood-hit people; I demand a White Paper to be tabled on the Rs.450 crores allotted to PWD.

“No precautionary measures were initiated despite the Meteorological Centre warning the Govt. in advance about last week’s very heavy rains.  Administrative machinery in the State appears to have reached a point of no return. A well-coordinated pre-emptive measure could have easily reduced the after-effects of the floods,” he said.

On another note, he said that he didn’t visit the Book Fair in Sharjah just to have some ‘good time’. He also remarked that the arrest of cartoonist Bala was a certain step against the right to freedom of expression.