Focus on governance, not reels: DMK chief MK Stalin; where is detention order: TVK

CHENNAI: Ahead of the impending bypolls, the political heat in the State went up by a notch on Thursday (September 10) after DMK president MK Stalin broke his silence over Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s taunts and ‘demeaning gestures’ targeting him in the Assembly to allegedly divert attention from governance failures through reels and political controversies, while the ruling party hit back by accusing Stalin of trying to protect what it described as a false image carefully crafted around his detention under MISA.

In a video message posted on his social media pages to clarify his "prison history that had become a subject of controversy in the Assembly”, Stalin said after the then Union government, run by TVK’s present ally Congress, dismissed the DMK government on January 30, 1976, for opposing the imposition of Emergency, the police came to his Gopalapuram residence to arrest him under the draconian Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).

But he was away, and when he returned home the next day, he was arrested, said Stalin.

In prison, he witnessed and experienced firsthand the severe physical and mental torture inflicted on inmates, including confining many of them in a small room, brutally beating them up with lathis and kicking them with boots, Stalin said.

He also recalled the death of former MP Chitti Babu, who died in prison after being assaulted.

The injuries he sustained, including the broken jaw that Vijay allegedly made fun of in the Assembly, had left permanent scars, Stalin said, and added that none can erase the history of the DMK's struggles.

Responding to Vijay's references to the Sarkaria Commission, Stalin accused him of parroting false allegations against his father and late chief minister M Karunanidhi. Many parties came to power at the State and Centre after the commission report came out, and action would have been taken if the allegations had been established, he said.

Stalin also criticised using Enforcement Directorate cases in political discourse, noting how most of those cases had not resulted in convictions.

Vijay should maintain the dignity expected of a chief minister, and Assembly discussion should focus on law and order, welfare schemes, State’s development, and protection of its rights instead of unnecessary controversies, he said.

At this point, Stalin recalled Vijay’s visit to his home after becoming the chief minister, and said the TVK chief apologised for strong comments during the poll campaign and that he had replied that he should speak with dignity after assuming office as the Chief Minister.

However, the government was running the administration like a "film shooting", and using reels and photo opportunities to conceal its alleged failures, including poor law and order, scrapping Parandur airport project, and breaking its promises on farm loan waiver, free LPG cylinders, and monthly assistance for women, Stalin accused.

It was for the voters, particularly the youth, to assess whether the party that promised change has actually delivered better governance, he said.

Soon, the TVK IT wing returned the fire, asking if Stalin was rattled after it exposed his ‘fake image’ as a person who sacrificed by going to jail opposing the Emergency.

"Is the anxiety mounting because his false image built over several years has been shattered," it asked, and questioned why Stalin and the DMK leadership were silent on the copy of the detention order.

"Truth needs neither publicity nor explanations," it said, describing the “emotionless speech” in the video containing multiple cuts as an unsuccessful attempt to make the people accept what it termed was alternate history.