‘White Paper only will reveal dengue intensity’

Responding to media queries, Stalin said the slackness of the state in handling dengue has been laid bare by the Centre. He was asked about Union health ministry reportedly stating that it could not help Tamil Nadu (in handling dengue) for want of request from the state government. 

Adding that they have been demanding a White Paper on various issues, including one on the status of schemes announced under rule 110 by deceased former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and it was of no avail, the DMK working president said, the truth about the dengue scare in the state would come out only if a White Paper comprising comprehensive details was released. 

On the exclusion of health minister Vijaya Baskar and two DGP’s from the FIR filed by DVAC on gutkha scam, Stalin recalled their demand for a CBI inquiry and said that senior advocate P Wilson had mentioned it in the court and they would get justice there. 

Asked about the government hiking liquor price to mop up additional revenue, the LoP recalled the poll promise of the AIADMK on enforcing gradual prohibition and said the hike in liquor price was another proof of a controversy-ridden government being in place in Tamil Nadu. 

When reporters drew his attention to state Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar calling his party a corrupt one, Stalin said that he would respond to the minister’s charges after he clarified the Rs 89 crore money distribution in RK Nagar, gutkha scam and the inability of the ruling dispensation to prove its majority in the House. To a pointed query on ministers reportedly using Tasmac and TNSTC to change their demonetised currencies, Stalin said that a proper inquiry would reveal the truth.