Udhayanidhi Stalin dares CM Vijay to open corruption files, calls it open challenge

CHENNAI: Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday directly challenged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to “open” the three corruption files he had referred to in the Assembly and initiate action, turning the House debate into a sharp political exchange between the DMK and the ruling benches.

Initiating the debate before the commencement of the demands for grants for the Energy and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Departments, Udhayanidhi referred to Vijay’s August 19 statement that he had three files containing evidence of graft from the previous DMK regime and would reveal their contents at an appropriate time.

“The Chief Minister should open the files and take action against it. Why is he scared?” Udhayanidhi asked.

Minister for Public Works and Highways Aadhav Arjuna said the government was not scared and would take legal action based on valid evidence.

Speaker JCD Prabhakar, intervening in the exchange, clarified that the Chief Minister’s statement meant that the files were under his review and said the minister’s response should not be construed as a challenge to Udhayanidhi.

Unconvinced, the Leader of the Opposition reiterated that it's not a challenge, but an open challenge. “I have challenged the Chief Minister, and he should open all the files. The DMK is not scared about the issue,” he said.

The Speaker also expunged a remark made by Udhayanidhi while questioning Vijay’s decision on the files and warned members against making unverified or inflammatory statements without documentation.

The corruption-file exchange came amid a broader confrontation over the live telecast of Assembly proceedings and the impact of social media on legislative debates.

Udhayanidhi, while congratulating the Speaker, said more remarks of Treasury Bench members were being expunged than those of the Opposition. However, he pointed out that the remarks continued to circulate as edited video clips and “reels” because of the live telecast.

“The Speaker is expunging more speeches of the Treasury Benches than of the Opposition. Even though the Speaker expunges them, the versions are going viral as reels owing to the live telecast,” he said.

The speaker said members must maintain the dignity of the House and ensure that their speeches reflect the people’s voice. “I will look into media reporting those expunged remarks as per complaints raised,” he said.

The exchange comes two days after Vijay told the Assembly that three “incriminating files” containing evidence against the previous regime were on his table and warned the Opposition against repeatedly demanding proof. He had said the details would be disclosed at an appropriate time.