PUDUCHERRY: Accusing the All India NR Congress (AINRC) government of adopting partiality in providing solatium, Leader of the Opposition V Vaithilingam here on Monday demanded equal compensation to the kin of all victims of various mishaps as well as enhancement of solatium for the kin of two missing fishermen from Karaikal to `5 lakh. Briefing newsmen at a press conference along with PCC president AV Subramanian, he charged that the AINRC government was discriminating between people from ruling and opposition party constituencies as well as depriving aid to Muslims, scheduled caste, fishermen and the outlying region of Karaikal as well.While the government had announced `5 lakh as solatium for the kin of Jothi from Ariyankuppam who died in a parcel bomb attack (ruling AINRC constituency), only `1 lakh each compensation was announced for the kin of two fishermen from Karaikal who went missing at sea.Further the government had announced `2.5 lakh as solatium for the kin of a girl student (scheduled caste ) who died in bus tragedy and another `1 lakh for the kin of a college girl who died after falling from a government college at Karaikal. He said that the government was differentiating people on the basis of constituencies of ruling party and opposition parties citing the `5 lakh compensation given to a woman from Ariyankuppam constituency (represented by Speaker V Sabapathy elected on AINRC ticket), while the solatium for a bus tragedy victim from Nettapakkam(AIADMK constituency) was halved to `2.5 lakh.Even the Karaikal region has been subjected to partial behaviour. He said that it was not proper for a government to differentiate people on the basis of ruling and opposition party constituencies. Citing Tamil Nadu as an example, he said that the solatium to the kin of the missing fishermen (whose bodies were yet to be recovered) was to be enhanced to `5 lakh and given to them, as they had offered to return the relief if the fishermen who went missing at sea were found alive. He charged that the government had not taken adequate steps to search for the fishermen and only responded after other fishermen staged agitation in this regard. Referring to the fishermen from Yanam, he said that the Chief minister should convene a meeting of the representatives of fishermen and address their issues arising due to activities including drilling by the onshore plant of Gujarat State Petroleum Limited in the Godavari basin bordering Yanam and Andhra Pradesh. Already the grievances of the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh fishermen had been heard by their Chief Minister, he said, and added that it should be done here in a similar fashion. Replying to a question on the BJP’s demand for an inquiry against him on procurement of PDS rice by providing incentives over the rate fixed by Government of India, he said that he was ready to debate the issue in the Assembly including law and order if a special session was convened.
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