PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday launched a padayatra to realise what he called “the dream of Dr. Ayya (his estranged father and party founder S. Ramadoss)” — of a Tamil Nadu that is free from liquor and drugs and where farmers are happy, workers are in a position of power, and everyone has access to education and health care.

Dr. Ramadoss had earlier petitioned the police to restrain his son from taking out the padayatra, alleging that it would cause law and order issues in northern Tamil Nadu.

Beginning his padayatra after offering prayers at the Thiruporur  Kandaswamy Temple, Dr. Anbumani garlanded B.R. Ambedkar’s statue on the way to a public meeting near the roundabout. He criticised Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for the state of law and order, violence against women, and failure to implement 10.5% internal reservation for the Vanniyars within the MBC category. “We are seeing a Chief Minister who gives a two-hour call-sheet every day. He comes, someone will say ‘action’, he will act, and then they will play the video the whole day [on media channels],” he said.

“People are angry and farmers are angry. The women, including girls, are unable to go out. The Chief Minister is responsible for it. For, the Police Department is under his control. Recently, a young girl of Tiruvallur district was sexually assaulted. Such incidents happened at Anna Nagar [in Chennai], Krishnagiri, Pollachi, and Tiruchi. Women are suffering sexual assaults,” he said.

“Government employees and teachers are responsible for the DMK to come to power. They demanded that the old pension scheme be brought back. Seven States have already brought it back. Why can’t Tamil Nadu do it? They have constituted a committee. What about the Sridhar Committee? The Shantha Sheela Nair Committee? When the DMK wants to postpone doing something, it will constitute a committee. And just before the election, when the committee submits its findings, it will promise to implement the recommendations after the election. This time, they [the people] can’t be fooled,” he said.

According to him, the recently launched ‘Ungaludan Stalin’ scheme had come too late. The PMK had earlier proposed a law to guarantee government services to the people. “The government has launched ‘Ungaludan Stalin’ to provide services by organising special camps. What were you doing for four-and-a-half years? The PMK demanded, 15 years ago, that the government pass a law, named ‘Right to Services Act’. Had such a law been passed, there would have been no need to hold these camps. This is our right, and it is the duty of the State government to guarantee it,” he said.

Dr. Anbumani said Mr. Stalin claims that he hails from the Delta region, but has no connection with farming. “Is there one farmer in Tamil Nadu who will say that he is happy? Do you know the agricultural growth in Tamil Nadu? It is -0.12%. If we consider the growth in milk production and fisheries, the growth is -5.68%. What has happened to the election promise that you would give ₹3,500 for a quintal of grain? What has happened to the promise that the government would give ₹5,000 for a tonne of sugar cane? Not a single farmer should vote for the DMK,” he said.