Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 12 (ANI): The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged widespread protests against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay following remarks made by the Chief Minister against DMK chief MK Stalin inside the state Assembly. The opposition party slammed the ruling dispensation for avoiding direct accountability and relying on historical controversies to divert public attention.
Addressing a gathering in Tiruchirappalli, DMK Principal Secretary KN Nehru launched a scathing attack on the administration's strategy on the floor of the House.
He said, "DMK had repeatedly challenged the government to take action if there were allegations of corruption against the party... Instead of answering questions, the Chief Minister was speaking as though delivering dialogues in a cinema... The government is attempting to divert public attention by repeatedly referring to the Sarkaria Commission, Enforcement Directorate cases and MISA."
He further claimed that the government was desperately attempting to shift public focus by repeatedly dragging up historical probes.
He added, "DMK MLAs were not given adequate opportunity to have their questions answered in the Assembly, and television coverage portrayed them negatively by focusing on them when they protested... DMK would win all nine Assembly constituencies in Tiruchirappalli again... The gathering represented people who would stand against the government and its authority."
Addressing references made to past detentions, Nehru challenged critics to examine official records regarding MK Stalin's arrest under MISA, emphasising that Stalin has always been a unifying leader who accommodates and respects alliance partners nationwide.
He said, "All documents and evidence relating to the arrest of former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin under MISA were available with the government. I ask Minister Nirmal Kumar to examine them. DMK president M.K. Stalin had been a leader who accommodated and carried along alliance partners across the country... DMK was not responsible for leaders who had chosen to leave the party on their own... The DMK has never given up its alliance partners and will not do so in the future."
Adding to the censure, senior DMK leader Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi targeted the ruling Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) MLAs, remarking that their entry into the House felt less like lawmakers attending a legislative session and more like actors walking onto an AVM studio set.
He said, "TVK members entering the Assembly appeared to be in a mindset of going to an AVM studio... TVK government is following the 'Goebbels theory' that continuously repeating lies could lead to victory... Vijay is now raising the issue of the Sarkaria Commission, which had already concluded, despite the fact that there were no charges against former Chief Minister Karunanidhi.
Poyyamozhi alleged that the rhetoric surrounding MISA arrests aligns with an RSS agenda, claiming that Minister Nirmal Kumar remains loyal to that ideological line.
He said, "The statements being made by TVK leaders on the issue were part of an RSS agenda... Minister Nirmal Kumar continued to be loyal to the RSS... DMK legislators were provoked in the Assembly, and cameras were turned towards them only when they protested... The TVK government would eventually be rejected by the same people who had brought it to power."
On Thursday, DMK president MK Stalin hit back at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s allegations against the party, asserting that “history can never be changed” and recalling the DMK’s struggle during the Emergency, including his arrest under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) and alleged custodial torture.
“Thambi Vijay, what you said is true. It is not a lie. During the Emergency, opposing it, leader Kalaignar organised a huge gathering at the Marina beach and severely criticised the MISA Act. Following that, the Union Government that was in power at that time, on 31st January 1976, dismissed the DMK government,” Stalin said.
He also recalled the death of DMK leader and former MP Chitti Babu, alleging that he died in jail following beatings, and said his own jawbone was broken during the alleged assault.
Stalin also rejected Vijay’s allegations concerning the Sarkaria Commission and corruption charges against Karunanidhi, saying that if the allegations had been substantiated, successive governments would have taken action.
“The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has dignity and respect. It is a place sculpted by many great leaders, great men. That responsibility is now with you,” Stalin said.
“Losing power, the DMK has never been considered a failure. Like two sides of a coin, I see this as another face of people's service. Whether we are in power or not, we must continue to fight for the rights of Tamil Nadu and for its development and for the people,” he said.
His remarks came days after Vijay, while addressing the Assembly on September 7, accused the DMK of corruption and cited the Sarkaria Commission report in connection with allegations against the government led by Karunanidhi.
Vijay also claimed that the Enforcement Directorate had accused the DMK of corruption through party funds and alleged that Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Minister Senthil Balaji were named in connection with the collection of money in the name of party funds.
The Chief Minister had also defended measures to strengthen law and order, saying vacancies in the police department would be filled and the force would function freely without political interference.
Vijay further appealed against defamatory remarks targeting women, saying political criticism could be harsh but should not cross the line into abusive or defamatory language. (ANI)
"Delivering dialogues in cinema": DMK's K N Nehru attacks CM Vijay over Assembly remarks
