Don’t taunt DMK persons, it’s a warning: Stalin says in video on Senthilbalaji arrest

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday 'warned' the BJP-led UInion government not to rub the DMK or its members on the wrong side.

Addressing his party workers on Senthilbalaji's arrest, Stalin, in a ten-minute video posted on his social media page, said, "The BJP (mis) construes that other parties would also be like the subservient one (AIADMK) headed by Edappadi K Palaniswami. DMK is not such a party. DMK persons would not be cowed down by such threats. Every DMK person is raised to strike back. Keep it in mind. We have seen everything."'

Remarking that they encounter ideological enemies in the political field, Stalin said, "We are ready to respond to your arguments. But, if you think of intimidating us, we will not budge. We will stand upright. We will meet face-to-face. We do not run the party for the sake of governance, but also for ideology. We will defend our ideology till the end."

தி.மு.க.காரர்களைச் சீண்டிப் பார்க்க வேண்டாம். எங்களுக்கும் எல்லா அரசியலும் தெரியும். இது மிரட்டல் அல்ல; எச்சரிக்கை! pic.twitter.com/MTA0suBkSh

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 15, 2023

Arguing that the history of DMK was testimony to its ability to fight back, the DMK president said, "Read the history to learn about the DMK's battles. If you cannot do it, ask your senior leaders. Do not taunt us. You will not withstand it if you taunt the DMK or its members. We too know all kinds of politics. This is not a threat. This is a warning."

EPS doesn't deserve to criticise

Questioning EPS' credentials or the lack of it to call out corruption, Stalin listed out the opposition leaders 'hounded' by the central agencies across the country, and said, "Raids will not be conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh because the BJP is in power there."

Stalin dares ED to raid AIADMK.

Questioning the status of cases related to the various central agency raids conducted in places linked to AIADMK leaders from 2016 to 2018, he said, "Did they file chargesheet in those cases? Did they secure punishment? No."

Daring the ED to raid the AIADMK leaders being prosecuted by the state DVAC in Tamil Nadu, the CM said, "We will provide all evidence. Is the ED ready to raid them? Union home minister Amit Shah met only those corrupt AIADMK leaders. The same Amit Shah has only proclaimed against corruption in Tamil Nadu recently."

Not wrong to inquire Balaji

Reiterating that the ED crackdown against Senthil Balaji was a "blatant vengeful political act", the CM said, "If there is a complaint and court order against Senthil Balaji, I do not say it is wrong to summon and inquire him. He is not an ordinary person who goes into hiding. He is a MLA elected by the people, a five-time MLA and a two-time minister. Where did the need arise to lock him up like a terrorist and investigate him?"

ED action shows undeclared emergency in India

Alleging that Balaji's life would have been under threat if they were lethargic in taking him to hospital after he complained of chest pain, the CM said, "Where was the need for such a hurried inquiry? Is the country in a state of undeclared emergency? The act of ED is akin to that."

BJP not ready to engage with people

Remarking that the BJP leadership was not ready to engage with the people in politics, the CM said, "The people are not ready to trust the BJP. People will trust the BJP only if they engage in people-oriented politics. BJP's politics is anti-people politics. When they cannot face ideologically and politically, they intimidate them using CBI, ED, and IT. This is the only approach known to them (BJP). They have been adopting this undemocratic strategy throughout the country."