NAGAPATTINAM: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday hit out at Opposition leader M K Stalin for his remark that the government events were being used to score political points and said there was nothing wrong in talking politics at such events as governments were elected on the principles of a party.
Replying to Stalin while speaking at the MGR birth centennary celebration at Nagapattinam, the Chief Minister said, “The DMK working president has been accusing us of making political statements at MGR birth centenary meetings. I would like to inform him that in a democracy a government is formed by a political party. So, it is unavoidable to speak politics at government events. Even, Stalin’s father (M Karunanidhi) has spoken politics at government functions, I have proof for that. But we know where to draw the line as we were groomed by MGR and Jayalalithaa.”
Turning his attention to T T V Dhinakaran, the Chief Minister asserted that no one can topple the
AIADMK government or the party. “Those dreaming of toppling the government and destroying the AIADMK will not succeed; they will only destroy themselves,” he warned. “We are following in the footsteps of MGR and Jayalalithaa. Jayalalithaa had implemented several schemes to the people of Tamil Nadu. The crowd, which has gathered here, is a proof of the support the government enjoys” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam quoted Bhagavad Gita and said ‘Vinasha kale vipreet buddhi’. “There are many who are thinking of destroying the party and the government, but their own thoughts will destroy them soon,” he said in an indirect reference to Dhinakaran.
Among those who spoke on the occasion were Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal and Minister of Textiles and Handlooms O S Manian. The CM also took a holy dip at the Cauvery Maha Pushkaram at Thulakkattam in Mayiladuthurai.
2 new fishing harbours in Nagai
Nagapattinam: Chief Minister Edapadi K Palaniswami announced on Wednesday that two harbours would be constructed in the district this fiscal. After addressing the MGR birth centenary celebrations, he commissioned 46 completed works with an estimated cost of D100.23 crore and distributed various welfare measures to 38,248 beneficiaries, valued at D281.31 crore.
“On the basis of requests made by MLAs, the government is looking to initiate various projects here. In this fiscal, we are planning to build a new fishing harbour in Tharangambadi at a cost of D172 crore and which can anchor 1,056 mechanised and 6,917 fibreglass boats. In Vellappallam of Vedaranyam taluk, another fishing harbour will be built at a cost of D152 crore, where 100 mechanised and 1,000 fibreglass boats can be anchored. With the harbours, around 22,000 fishermen stand to benefit,” the Chief Minister said. ens