Stop taking credit for projects initiated during AIADMK rule, says LoP to DMK

CHENNAI: Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday condemned the DMK government for claiming credit for projects initiated under the AIADMK government. He cited the Ola’s electric bike unit operations as example.

In a statement, the former chief minister asked the state not to take credit for what was not due to them. Early this year, Ola announced that its two-wheelers made at its plant in Krishnagiri district would be marketed by the end of 2022 and the plant has started the production. The company has also said it would be exporting the electric two-wheelers to Asian and European countries from the TN plant generating employment for 10,000 persons. But, the state Industries Minister while addressing reporters said that the DMK government was instrumental in completing this project, the Opposition Leader said and added that the claim was false.

It was the AIADMK government that signed an MoU for Rs 2,345 crore in 2020 to set up a two-wheeler manufacturing plant in Krishnagiri. But, after the launch of this project, the Industries Minister was projecting as if they were instrumental in bringing the factory within 50 days of forming the government suppressing the facts, Palaniswami charged.

Pointing out that his government was appreciated by the Centre for strategic and international studies and Mumbai based Projects Today group for attracting investments during the lockdown period, Palaniswami asked the government to make use of the business platform that the AIADMK government has created and not to claim credit for projects mooted during the previous AIADMK regime. It may be noted that Ola announced that it has commenced construction of the world’s largest two-wheeler mega-factory on a 500acre site in TN. The new plant will roll out e-scooters and has promised eco-friendly industrial policies in its new factory.