AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday challenged DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to list the alleged shortcomings of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)’s rule for an open debate.
While campaigning for AIADMK candidate P. Karuppaiah for Tiruchi Lok Sabha constituency, Mr. Palaniswami said: “Mr. Stalin has been accusing the 10 years of AIADMK’s rule as a dark period, I am directly challenging Mr. Stalin to list whatever he considers as flaws in our government and we will give a fitting reply point by point. Mr. Stalin has been accusing us without any evidence which is unacceptable.”
Accusing Mr. Stalin of creating an Illusion of INDIA bloc as a strong alliance, he said: ”Mr. Stalin speaks as if the INDIA alliance will grab the power at the Centre. In reality, parties within the INDIA alliance take different stands in different States. How can an alliance which has no unity while facing the Lok Sabha elections select a Prime Ministerial candidate?”
Pointing out to Mr. Stalin’s remarks post AIADMK’s exit from the BJP, Mr. Palaniswami said: “Mr. Stalin is irritated over our exit from the BJP alliance. He could not bear it. Mr. Stalin knows that we are much stronger on our own. That is why he has been accusing us of having a secret pact with the BJP to disrupt our popularity in the public.”
Despite being part of the Union Cabinet for 14 years, the DMK did nothing for Tamil people, the Opposition leader charged.
‘Think before voting’
Later, campaigning in Thanjavur in support of DMDK candidate P. Sivanesan, Mr. Palaniswami called upon delta farmers to think before casting their votes in the Lok Sabha election. It was the AIADMK which protected and is protecting the interests of farmers.
On the other hand, the DMK has let down the farmers by various acts such as signing a memorandum of understanding with the Great Eastern Energy Corporation for extracting methane from the delta bed and not extending crop insurance protection for the kuruvai paddy in the past three years and by “remaining silent” on the Karnataka move to construct a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu. If the Mekedatu project gets through, then the delta would turn barren, he warned.
To substantiate his statements on the methane issue, he played two video clips in which the former Union Minister and DMK veteran T.R. Baalu and senior Parliamentarian and MDMK leader Vaiko affirmed that the DMK was instrumental in implementing the methane project in the delta region. “However, their attempt was nipped in the bud and later the AIADMK government, led by me, in consultation with the Central government, declared the delta region as a protected agriculture zone,” he added.
