Alleged Irregularities in Pongal Gift Basket Program: TN Food Minister Calls on PAHO and EPS to Submit Evidence | Chennai News

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CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s Food Minister R Sakkarapani on Tuesday confronted former AIADMK chief ministers and leaders O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami over their allegations that there had been irregularities in the program of Pongal gift baskets. “If there is any evidence, let OPS and EPS submit it to me. The state is ready for any investigation ”, declared the minister, refuting the accusations of the opposition. Speaking to reporters here, the minister said executives like Panneerselvam were exaggerating fabricated reports. “Doesn’t OPS know that the orders were placed with the lowest bidder through a transparent bidding process, in which several companies participated? Does he not know that companies from all over the country could participate under the law on the transparency of tenders, ”said Sakkarapani. The DMK government distributed Pongal gift baskets consisting of 21 items, including sugar cane, to rice card holders from 2.15 crore to Rs 1,297 crore. The previous AIADMK regime had distributed 20 grams of cashews, 20 grams of raisins and 5 grams of cardamom at Rs 45 during the last Pongal, while the DMK government gave 50 grams of cashews, 50 grams of raisins and 10 grams of cardamom at Rs 62. The government saved Rs 48 in the purchase of three products, the minister said. Sakkarapani alleged that the AIADMK leadership had engaged in irregularities in Pongal gift baskets in the past, but chose to blame the DMK for buying the products honestly. “Unable to forget the ‘commission’ available to the AIADMK regime, OPS and EPS now allow themselves to dream of such a commission in the current regime,” the minister accused. AIADMK leaders had carried out false propaganda on the baskets with the support of appointed employees in cooperative outlets during the AIADMK regime. However, they were unsuccessful, after the chief minister himself carried out an on-site inspection and spoke to the public. The latest bogus propaganda would not succeed, Sakkarapani said. Cardholders were happy to collect the high-quality products distributed by the government for free, while the AIADMK leadership was upset by the public’s appreciation, the minister said.

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