Don’t drag court for open debate, CM tells DMK chief

After DMK leader MK Stalin expressed his readiness for an open debate on corruption charges levelled against the ruling party, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday threw up the challenge again asking Stalin to come for a debate, ‘if you have the ability and guts.’ “I challenged Stalin for an open debate. 

Instead of taking up my challenge, Stalin is asking me to vacate the stay against the probe in court.

Why does he drag the ‘court’ into the issue? Let Stalin come and debate on the charges against us and we will give our replies. Then, the people can become the judge and deliver their verdict,” he said, while campaigning in Arachalur in Erode district.

Delving further, the Chief Minister said, “The Supreme Court has issued a stay order against the probe as it was a false case by DMK. How could Stalin ask us to come after vacating the stay. Is he (Stalin) a genius than the Supreme Court judge?”.

Coming down harshly, the Chief Minister asked, “Should this nation need an Opposition leader who gave a false corruption complaint to the Governor on a scheme for which even tender was not issued by the government. Till now, Stalin has not given his answer to this query of mine.” “Stalin says that tenders were given to my relatives.

Then how could the DMK give ten tenders to them. The AIADMK government finalises works by issuing tenders only through online bidding in a transparent manner. In the DMK government, tenders were issued to build secretariat buildings for Rs 200 crores, but finally Rs 430 crores was spent, almost 120 per cent higher than the fixed rate. This is what corruption is,” he said.

Earlier at Panneerselvam Park, Palaniswami slammed Stalin for questioning the efficacy of Amma mini clinics scheme which was being appreciated by the entire nation

DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday dared Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to prove corruption charges against DMK leaders, whereas the charges against the AIADMK leaders submitted to Governor have clear proof.

“We have strong proofs for each charge that we submitted with the Governor. Once the DMK comes to power, these corrupt Ministers, including the Chief Minister, will pay for it,” Udhayanidhi said while addressing people in Manachanallur. He also showed the list of charges levelled against the Ministers.

He also ridiculed the Chief Minister for levelling baseless charges against the DMK forgetting that the AIADMK has been in power for the past 10 years and the Ministers were involved in huge corruption. “They even executed corruption during the COVID-19 pandemic and it is evident how they are particular about making money,” he said.

He also said that the people especially women are not safe in AIADMK rule and the Pollachi sexual harassment case and the subsequent arrest of AIADMK functionaries is the proof. “The student wing secretary who was arrested on Wednesday had close contact with the AIADMK Ministers and the BJP leaders,” he added.