AIADMK goes to police again against Sasikala, alleges conspiracy to unleash violence in TN
Chennai, Feb 7: Ahead of expelled leader Sasikala's return on February 8 to Tamil Nadu from Karnataka, the ruling AIADMK has lodged a complaint with police against her camp, alleging a 'conspiracy' to unleash 'violence' and sought action to ensure peace in the state.
While Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam chief and Sasikala's nephew Dhinakaran rubbished the conspiracy allegation as defamatory and lies, the police department warned of action against 'activities contrary to law.'
The AIADMK's allegation on Saturday came ahead of her return to Tamil Nadu from Bengaluru after her recovery from COVID-19 and following completion of her jail term in a corruption case.
A high-level AIADMK meet, chaired by Chief Minister K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam was meanwhile held here.
The party, in a release, said the top two leaders advised office-bearers to work unitedly with vigil to ensure victory for AIADMK in the Assembly elections due in April or May by taking the 'historic' achievements of the government to the people.
Party spokesperson and former Minister Vaigaichelvan told reporters there was no discussion on 'Sasikala' factor at all.
To a question, he said if anyone from the AIADMK met her, they would be dismissed from the party.
Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam said a complaint has been submitted with police, seeking to "thwart a conspiracy to unleash violence and protect the lives of Tamil Nadu people and properties from Sasikala and Dhinakaran and ensure peace."
Flanked by his Cabinet colleagues and party veteran E Madhusudhanan, Shanmugam alleged the conspiracy has been hatched to create 'violence' by using AIADMK's name and flag and then blame the ruling party for it.
'Intimidatory' remarks, tantamount to creating violence in the state have been made by Dhinakaran and his supporters, he alleged.
Speaking to reporters after submitting the complaint at the office of the Director General of Police, the Minister said Dhinakaran had claimed that they could not be prevented from using the AIADMK's flag even if they went to the state police chief or the armed forces.
Dhinakaran and Sasikala's supporters have also warned of turning into 'human bombs,' which put at risk Tamil Nadu, its people and peace, he alleged.
Dhinakaran dismissed the allegation as 'distortion,' lies and defamatory.
In a statement, the AMMK leader claimed that the police department has accorded sanction to the party's plan to accord reception to Sasikala at several places in Tamil Nadu on Monday.
The AMMK has already announced a grand reception for Sasikala right from the start of Tamil Nadu border near Hosur.
The police department, without naming anyone, in a statement said it has got information that some were planning to take law into their own hands and cause a breach of public tranquility and disrupt traffic movement.
The state police warned of action against those who involve themselves in such unlawful activities and this is seen as a warning to AMMK following the AIADMK's complaint.
On the previous complaint against Sasikala, Shanmugam said it was connected to her use of party flag and AIADMK's strong objection to it and the present one pertained to conspiracy to stoke violence.
Signaling a tough stand against Sasikala, the AIADMK had days ago lodged a complaint with the DGP office against use of its flag by her and sought action.
Shanmugam said the true AIADMK was the one steered by presidium chairman E Madhusudhanan and top leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami.
This was made amply clear in a Supreme Court verdict in a matter related to the AIADMK's two-leaves symbol in which Sasikala-Dhinakaran were also parties, he said.
Following the verdict, the party fought by-elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well with the two-leaves symbol, he recalled.
Days ago, a war of words broke out between the AIADMK and AMMK after the ruling party's flag was spotted on a car used by Sasikala in Bengaluru.
While AIADMK maintained that she was not even a party member and had no right to use the flag and went to police, AMMK claimed that she was 'AIADMK general secretary.'
It said it would continue its fight to 'retrieve' the AIADMK legally and democratically.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
