Ruling party hits back at Raja’s statement

Several AIADMK leaders, who were largely silent when the saffron party’s national president Amit Shah earlier said that TN was the most corrupt State in the country, took turns to strike back at the BJP.

Speaking to media persons in Madurai, Dairy development minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji said the BJP leader needs immediate hospitalisation for a thorough medical examination. 

“Raja should be examined for blood pressure. The State has dealt with the issue seriously by registering cases against him,” he said. 

When reporters noted that the State had also registered cases against S Ve Shekher for a controversial statement but never arrested him, Bhalaji said, “There is a provision for getting bail and that’s the reason people make controversial statements and roam freely in democratic Tamil Nadu.”

Taking a similar stand, minister for Tamil culture Ma Foi Pandiarajan said that the State has never prostrated in front of the Centre. 

“Whenever the Centre needs to be questioned, we will do so,” he emphasized. 

This scenario is stark in contrast with the Amit Shah’s episode when a few AIADMK leaders claimed that the latter’s words were misinterpreted.

It  maybe noted that the AIADMK organ ‘Naamadhu Amma’ has also started crticising the Centre over the rising fuel prices in its recent columns. 

Even during the NEET protests, the AIADMK restrained from criticising the Centre. In April, the AIADMK sacked an assistant editor of its paper for publishing an article which hinted about the AIADMK-BJP alliance in Tamil Nadu. 

However, with the Lok Sabha polls nearing, the AIADMK has changed its position.