DMK and TVK Spar in Tamil Nadu Assembly Over Direct Procurement Centre Bribery

In Chennai, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly witnessed sharp exchanges on Thursday as members of the DMK and TVK clashed over allegations of bribery and corruption at direct procurement centres (DPCs) across the state.

The confrontation began during the debate on the demand for grants, when Food Minister P Venkataramanan stated that farmers were previously demanded a bribe of Rs 50 to procure one quintal of paddy under the DMK regime.

DMK legislators strongly objected to the minister's remarks, countering that such practices continue under the TVK administration. DMK MLA Chezhian stated that farmers had raised grievances about ongoing corruption directly during ministerial field inspections.

Chezhian demanded that the food minister either openly acknowledge that bribes are still being collected under the TVK government or have his statements regarding the previous government expunged from the Assembly records.

Responding to the opposition's demands, Venkataramanan maintained that the administration had initiated immediate action against individuals who were found indulging in bribery during his inspection visits to the centres.

Alongside the debate on DPC operations, the food minister announced that the government is undertaking measures to expand storage infrastructure. A total of 15 new warehouses with a combined capacity of 31,000 tonnes will be constructed across 13 districts. The project will be carried out by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation at an estimated cost of Rs 81 crore.