Vaiko hits out at CM, praises Udayakumar, Vijaya Baskar

“Revenue Minister RB Udayakumar and Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar worked round the clock to ensure that all the essential supplies, including medicines reached the cyclone affected victims. Earlier, I criticised Vijaya Baskar for his involvement in Gutkha case, but now I am appreciating him for the work he did for the cyclone affected people,” said Vaiko, while addressing the media, after appearing in a city court.

State government in general was criticised for not involving fully in relief works post Cyclone Gaja and for not reaching all the affected people. Though opposition leaders like DMK president MK Stalin, and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran, initially appreciated and then criticised, Vaiko had been appreciating the Ministers, except Palaniswami, right from day one of cyclone’s landfall.

“Palaniswami should have camped at Thanjavur on the day one and should have coordinated with the Ministers and districts collectors but he failed to do so. Palaniswami should have gone to the cyclone affected areas and should have met the people on the field,” said Vaiko.

He also said that fifty years back, administrators from Tamil Nadu were widely known as the best in the country and now the cyclone had once again proved that they were still the best in the country. “I saw IAS officers not sleeping and taking rest since the cyclone alert was given. The officials ensured that all the relief materials reach the people in the relief camps,” said Vaiko.