The Opposition DMK on Saturday marched to Raj Bhavan and submitted a petition to Governor K Rosaiah demanding a CBI probe into the June 28 building collapse in the city which claimed 61 lives. The party has been walking out of the Assembly since the Budget Session began earlier this week demanding a CBI probe into the incident.
“We want to ascertain whether there are any irregularities on the part of the Government agencies. It could be known only through the CBI probe,” MK Stalin, the party treasurer who led the rally to the Raj Bhavan told reporters after submitting the petition to the Governor.
Hundreds of party workers took part in the rally. According to Stalin, the DMK would continue with protests till the probe was handed over to the CBI. The State Government on its part has ruled out any violations and irregularities on the part of the Government agencies like Chennai Metropolitan Develo-pment Authority.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe into the details which led to the collapse of the building. She has also appointed a one-man commission headed by Justice Raghupathy, a former Madras High Court judge to find out the reasons and factors which led to the collapse of the building.
M Karunanidhi, the DMK chief has been pressing for a CBI probe into the disaster. Tamil Nadu Housing and Urban Development Minister R Vaidhyalingam has rejected the demand for CBI probe and stated in the assembly that the CMDA gave approval for construction only after getting convinced that the guidelines and specifications were met.
Jayalalithaa, who had visited the accident site immediately after the incident, said there were violations by the builders in structural designs and other parameters.