Chennai, Apr 11 (PTI) The opposition AIADMK on Saturday flayed the DMK for criticising it on various issues and termed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin’s intensive push against delimitation as “diversionary tactics”.
Also, the party’s spokesperson and advocate wing joint secretary R M Babu Murugavel said it was “unworthy” of the DMK to accuse AIADMK of being a “slave” to the BJP and said the previous AIADMK regime’s harmonious relationship with the Centre has ensured the Palaniswami-led government to bring 11 medical colleges, 6 law colleges, 2 animal husbandry colleges, besides 57 arts and science colleges in the state.
“But Chief Minister Stalin has not brought any new college to the state with the concurrence of the Centre,” he said.
“The DMK is unworthy of calling us slaves. Our leader Palaniswami has been maintaining harmonious ties with the Centre and ensured development to the state. But Stalin is pursuing divisive politics,” Babu Murugavel told PTI.
“If we are called slaves, then how do you describe a state minister who placed the slippers of the Chief Minister?” Murugavel asked.
He claimed that the DMK’s intensive push against delimitation was “diversionary tactics.” The AIADMK general secretary has already clarified that the central government assured that Tamil Nadu will not be affected by the delimitation exercise.
Expressing apprehensions on the proposed delimitation exercise, Chief Minister M K Stalin in an interview to PTI said it was the DMK that raised the first voice asserting the rights of the state after realising that Tamil Nadu would be affected by the proposed exercise. He also attacked his rival and AIADMK chief over the issue and recalled DMK’s efforts to raise the issue of population-based delimitation.
He said an all-party meeting and a meeting of CMs under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee seeking fair delimitation were convened. It sought to freeze delimitation for 25 years and stick to it based on the 1971 Census population.
“However, Palaniswami, who is seeking votes for the entry of the BJP through the backdoor, has till date been mute over delimitation, and this is a betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu,” Stalin said.
Defending his usage of the strong term “slave” against AIADMK leaders, the CM asked, “How to describe those who mortgaged all the rights of Tamil Nadu? How else to describe those who dance to the tunes of Delhi?” Murugavel said the AIADMK had staged several agitations condemning the deterioration of law and order in the state and Palaniswami had even said that the rise in sexual assaults was linked to the rampant availability of drugs. He has promised to eliminate the drug menace within three months of the AIADMK coming to power.
“The DMK is dividing the people on religious lines under the guise of secularism and is pursuing vote bank politics,” the AIADMK spokesperson alleged. PTI JSP JSP ROH
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