TN Assembly: CM Vijay cites ED papers to target DMK on corruption; Oppn party walks out

CHENNAI: Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday, TVK chief and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay accused the DMK of serious and organised corruption during its regime, citing Enforcement Directorate documents and targeting its first family. His remarks triggered a strong and noisy pushback from the principal opposition party members, who rushed to the well of the House before eventually staging a walkout.

Vijay, who had days earlier asked the principal opposition party not to “run away” from the Assembly under some pretext on Monday, alleged the collection of “party funds” and what he described as “scientific corruption” during the previous DMK regime, recalling instances dating back to the 1970s.

“Irregularities happen only where the DMK is present, and the DMK will be present only where wrongs occur,” he asserted while wrapping up the Assembly debate on grants for the Home department, which he holds. Citing Enforcement Directorate documents, the chief minister listed alleged irregularities in the municipal administration department and the state-run liquor behemoth TASMAC.

During his speech, Vijay also said he would not engage in “low-level politics” by trading crime statistics from 2021 to 2025 with the DMK, adding that his party neither practised nor needed to resort to such tactics.

He also recalled the humiliation former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa allegedly faced at the hands of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, saying no woman should ever be subjected to similar treatment.

The remarks came amid a noisy protest by DMK MLAs as government Bills were introduced in the House. Despite the uproar, the Ministers concerned introduced the Bills.

Vijay targets DMK over ‘party funds’ and corruption allegations

Vijay recalled poet Kannadasan’s criticism of the DMK, saying the poet had described the party as one accustomed to “speaking lies, taking money and carrying bags”.

Referring to three files on his table, Vijay said DMK members had asked him to open them and offered to read out details sent by the Enforcement Directorate during the previous government. He also claimed that the commission of inquiry report had brought several irregularities to light.

Vijay alleged that commissions had been collected in instalments, comparing the alleged practice to paying a loan through EMIs. He claimed that the inquiry commission report had mentioned allegations of forced commission collection in tenders and referred to former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in this context.

Vijay quipped that the DMK had a habit of demanding evidence while keeping the evidence itself nearby, adding that the Enforcement Directorate had itself referred to party funds in its report.

Responding to remarks by a DMK member about “breaking bones”, Vijay asked whether the member was an orthopaedic doctor. He also criticised another remark that those who did not vote for the DMK would not have a good death, saying such statements were among the reasons the party was now sitting in the Opposition.

ED documents cited by CM Vijay

Citing Enforcement Directorate documents, the chief minister listed alleged corruption during the previous DMK regime in the municipal administration department and in the state-run liquor behemoth TASMAC.

Relying on such official papers, Vijay alleged that former Chief Minister MK Stalin and his deputy Udhayanidhi were cited by the Central agency as among the "beneficiaries" in respect of the collection of alleged "party funds."

Former Excise Minister V Senthilbalaji and his brother Ashok were also cited by the CM in connection with the alleged corruption in TASMAC.

DMK protests CM Vijay's remarks

"Dishonest intention, what a great achievement that is DMK," the CM asserted again, referring to the union government agency's papers.

The allegations led to a major showdown and the main opposition strongly opposed the chief minister's statement, and a ruckus ensued. DMK MLAs surrounded Speaker JCD Prabhakar's podium, raised slogans and rushed to the well.

Vijay initially cited the Sarkaria Commission report of the 1970s over alleged "2.5 per cent corruption in tenders," during the then DMK regime led by M Karunanidhi.

Citing the "Karur gang" reference by the ED over alleged graft in TASMAC, he said even illegalities were done in an organised manner and alleged that "this was the scientific corruption" during the DMK regime. Karur is a part of the western "Kongu" region of Tamil Nadu, which is the native turf of Senthilbalaji.

When files related to just two departments were opened, so much was being disclosed, he said, asking would be the outcome if more departments were scrutinised.

'Where there is wrongdoing, there is DMK': CM Vijay

Vijay said the DMK claimed that where there was wrongdoing, the party would not be present, but countered that “where there is DMK, there will be wrongdoing, and where there is wrongdoing, there will be DMK.” Seeking to substantiate his allegations, he said there were two kinds of people: those who get caught after committing wrongdoing and those who commit wrongdoing without getting caught, and alleged that the DMK belonged to the second category.

He further said DMK members immediately rose whenever corruption was mentioned and asked whether they could claim that they had never indulged in corruption. "Only those involved in corruption demand evidence, those who do not indulge in such activities will not bother about accusations," he said.

'Look at your own record': CM Vijay tells DMK

Vijay also attacked the previous DMK regime over law and order and drug-related issues. He said there had been a deterioration in law and order and an increase in drug use during the previous DMK government, and advised the party to look in the mirror at its own record before speaking about law and order in the current TVK-led regime.

Last week, during a heated debate on the 4-month old TVK government's handling of the law and order situation in the state, Udhayanidhi had sought to corner the ruling TVK over law and order. Vijay had assured that he would provide a detailed reply to the allegations raised by the DMK.

Listing iconic leaders--CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran and NT Rama Rao-- he said after such leaders it was himself, Vijay.

He reiterated that he did not aspire for chair and power. His goal was to do good to the people, and pay his debt of gratitude to them.

(With inputs from Daily Thanthi, PTI)