Chennai floods: AIADMK denies allegations of relief materials being allowed only after carrying Jayalalithaa stickers

Even as Chennai battles historic floods, power cuts and shortage of essential commodities, relief materials are being allowed into certain parts of the city only if they carry a sticker of Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa, according to a report in an English daily.

Several people have taken to Twitter and have alleged that relief materials are being allowed only when they carry a mandatory sticker of the CM.

All vehicles from there are allowed to proceed onto after this has been done pic.twitter.com/ZNFqEKJiv9

— ಠ_ಠ (@_anithasridhar) December 4, 2015

The images shared also allegedly show AIADMK volunteers sticking posters and fliers on relief packets. These incidents were reported mostly in Chennai and Cuddalore. 

What went viral was Jayalalithaa's poster depicting her as Baahubali, apparently implying that she was the one suffering during the floods in Tamil Nadu.

Amma of all tasteless self-promotions pic.twitter.com/R2UvBKCf50

— IndiaExplained (@IndiaExplained) December 4, 2015

One user lamented the alleged behaviour of AIADMK workers in the time of crisis. The Twitter user said that rice given by NGOs and public were transferred to sacks with Amma stickers.

@_anithasridhar how well manpower being used in times of disaster ! pic.twitter.com/xBpubQ3d5A

— sivasankar (@shiva_papillon) December 4, 2015

An angry mob spilled on to the streets when senior ministers Natham Viswanathan, Sellur Raju and Gokul Indira visited RK Nagar, Jayalalithaa's constituency, and gheraoed and heckled them over the issue.

At a press conference held on Friday in the Secretariat, the power minister Natham Viswanathan and Chief Secretary Gnanadesikan claimed that rescue works carried on by the government were were "extraordinary" and also blamed the opposition for criticism on relief work. The government ministers claimed that the opposition's reaction was a politically-motivated move in order to influence assembly elections that would take place in early 2016.

AIADMK has however refuted the charges saying people have been paid to do such things to defame Jayalalithaa government, reports The Hindu. They said that they have caught people have been playing the 'mischief' to descredit the state government. But it also said that it will take action against partymen harassing volunteers and hindering relief operations. 

It has asked volunteers to call and register complaint on these numbers: 044-28130787, 044-28132266, 044-28133510

The complaints can also be sent to the party Twitter handle @aiadmkofficial or can mailed to info@aiadmk.com.