Force Centre to withdraw SC plea: Stalin

Police detained arrested DMK working president MK Stalin and other opposition leaders, who staged a flash strike on the Marina, at a hall in Doveton on Thursday. 

Talking to reporters at the hall, Stalin, who claimed that over 10 lakh workers were arrested across the state during the strike, urged the state government to pressurise the Centre to withdraw its clarification petition on April 9, when the Supreme Court takes up the petition. 

He quickly added that the AIADMK regime led by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami does not have credentials or competence to pressurise the Central government, reacting to a query on whether the state could expect a favourable order on April 9. 

Asked if they would wave black flags during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state next week, Stalin who announced the deferment of Thursday’s all-party meeting to Friday due to the arrest of leaders during this morning’s road roko said they have been gradually giving effect to the decisions taken in the previous all-party meeting and they would decide on the issue in Friday’s meeting. 

On the Governor reportedly expressing satisfaction over the prevailing situation in Tamil Nadu, Stalin said the same Governor had frankly detailed the problems of the government last week. “Everyone knows what opinion the Governor holds about this government. He has been conducting separate reviews because of lack of faith in the incumbent regime. He would not have reviewed if he were satisfied. The CM and his deputy, who staged hunger strike drama, have enacted another one after meeting the Governor.”

Arrested and lodged along with other party leaders in a community hall in Doveton, and that too after rallying under sweltering heat and sloganeering against the Centre and state, a clueless Stalin was requested by VKC leader Thol Thirumavalavan to solemnise a marriage of his party cadre. He explained that the marriage of Bharatidasan and Sreemathi of Ayinampalayam near Vilupuram was to be solemnised by him in another hall in the city. But the arrest had prompted the adamant couple to come all the way to Doveton community hall and insist on him presiding their wedding. The DMK working president instantly obliged the VCK chief and summoned his district secretary Sekar Babu to prepare a pack of turmeric coated rice to solemnise the wedding. Stalin and Thirumavalavan posed with the couple who tied the knot.