Invite oppn MLAs too for govt functions: Nandakumar

Nandakumar said that the Anaicut, Katpadi, Arcot and Vellore assembly segments which comprised Vellore city where the smart city project was to be implemented were all represented by DMK MLAs. But for the recent public hearing at the Vellore collector’s office on the scheme, none of them were invited, he said. “If we have been involved, we could have told the district administration where the areas of problem were and how to overcome them,” he added.

Responding to the comment, the Commercial Taxes minister, KC Veermani said that in future they would be invited to government functions. Collector SA Raman who was present, intervened and said that as far as the smart city project was concerned, this was only the foundation stone laying ceremony. He also added that only after this would the nitty gritty work be operated out. DMKL MLAs, P Karthikeyan (Vellore) and JL Eswarappan (Arcot) were also present.

Similarly, the function also saw BJP representatives going to the stage to complain to the officials that banners and invitations for the project did not have pictures of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi despite Rs.500 crore being contributed by the central government.