Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday hit back at Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s corruption allegations against the DMK, accusing him of making unsubstantiated claims and ducking questions on law and order.
Speaking after the Assembly proceedings, Udhayanidhi said Vijay spent the opening minutes of his reply addressing the police department but then shifted to allegations against the DMK without offering evidence.
“He levelled baseless allegations against us without any proof,” Udhayanidhi said, claiming the Opposition was denied an opportunity to respond.
Udhayanidhi said the DMK listened to Vijay’s speech before walking out, alleging that the Chief Minister failed to answer questions on law and order.
“He did not answer any of the questions we asked regarding law and order. He only used diversion tactics,” he said.
He also took exception to Vijay invoking the Sarkaria Commission and MISA to attack the DMK. “He went back to 1970. He is talking about the Sarkaria Commission and MISA. What does he know about the Sarkaria Commission?” Udhayanidhi asked.
Turning the spotlight on the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Udhayanidhi cited cases involving Vijay and his ministers and questioned their standing to attack the DMK.
“There is an Income Tax case against the Chief Minister himself. There is an Enforcement Directorate case against the PWD Minister. There are cases against all the ministers of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. What qualification do they have to question us?” he said.
Udhayanidhi also questioned the use of ED allegations as political ammunition, saying an agency’s claims could not be treated as proof.
His remarks came after Vijay alleged in the Assembly that the ED had accused the DMK of corruption involving party funds and had named former Chief Minister MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Minister Senthil Balaji in connection with alleged collections of money in the name of party funds.
Vijay also invoked the Sarkaria Commission report to allege that former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had abused his official position.
On law and order, Vijay said police vacancies would be filled, the department would be digitalised and the force would function without political interference.
The Chief Minister also appealed against defamatory remarks targeting women amid the political row over alleged comments by Udhayanidhi about actor Trisha. The DMK has maintained that his remarks were edited and misrepresented.
Udhayanidhi, however, returned to his central charge against the Chief Minister: “Whatever the Chief Minister said are only allegations. There is no proof. An allegation must be proven.”
(With inputs from ANI)