SALEM: Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami on Thursday took a swipe at the opposition parties for maintaining "stoic silence" over his governments concerted efforts on containing the spread of the coronavirus and reducing the fatalities.
He said states like Kerala and New Delhi, which the opposition parties earlier cited as models on handling the pandemic, were now reporting a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Admitting that the coronavirus infection was severe in Tamil Nadu in the early days, the CM said TN is the only state in India that has succeeded in controlling the pandemic by gradually reducing its incidence and has brought down the fatality rate of the infection.
"The opposition party leaders screamed, look at Kerala, look at Delhi, how they are handling the situation. My government has now brought the Coronavirus infection under control in Tamil Nadu."
"It has increased in Kerala and Delhi. And they are not talking anything about this now," he said while speaking after inaugurating Amma mini clinic at Lathuvadi here.
Amidst the political leaders who "deliberately plan and criticise" the state government, his AIADMK was fulfilling the aspirations of the people, the chief minister said.
He acknowledged the dedicated service of the medical professionals and the concerned efforts of various department officials in helping the government to bring a turnaround in the pandemic crisis.
Turning to the Amma mini clinic, Palaniswami said this initiative was launched to ensure the availability of quality medicare facilities to the poor especially the working class, farmers and agricultural workers.
"The general public can also avail treatment here for minor ailments. In case, if a surgery is to be performed, then the person concerned will be referred to the Taluk Hospital," he said.
As a farmer himself who was raised in a village, he knew about the difficulties of the rural masses, he added.
Palaniswami on Thursday assailed actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan for hosting the reality show 'Bigg Boss,' saying the actor "can do no good for the people and his job is only to spoil good families."
The AIADMK veteran's criticism of Haasan comes in the backdrop of the actor invoking the legacy of the ruling party's founder, former chief minister, the late M G Ramachandran,and the MNM chief lashing out at government over corruption.
In response to Palaniswami's criticism, Haasan quipped he was happy the chief minister was also watching the reality show.
Pointing out that Haasan has launched a political party "post retirement," Palaniswami asked, "what does he know (about politics)."
"He is conducting Bigg Boss If you see those serials not only children but also good families will get spoiled." "One cannot pin hopes on the actor as he can't do good for the people. His job is only to spoil good families," the chief minister said, perhaps in his most strong criticism of Haasan so far.
The chief minister's comments came in response to a question from a reporter here who sought his reaction to the actor's tweet on corruption.
"Ask sensible questions. You are trying to give the impression that the actor is a political leader," Palaniswami chided the scribe.
Haasan, highly critical of the AIADMK government over a number of issues including graft, had earlier tweeted, while referring to the seizure of unaccounted money from various government offices by the DVAC, state officials were following the footsteps of the government on corruption.
Averring that there are several issues concerning the people like the interlinking of rivers, farming, innovation or giving good advice to youngsters, Palaniswami said Kamal Haasan's films did not give any socially relevant messages to the people as did the films of MGR , as Ramachandran, also a former matinee idol, is popularly addressed.
"MGR gave good songs with pertinent messages to the people, especially children. Has Kamal given any song that would do good to people," Palaniswami asked.
Children and good families "will get spoiled" if they watch Kamal Haasan's Bigg Boss show, he said.
Responding to Palaniswami's tirade, Haasan said in a tweet he was happy "that the chief minister is also watching Bigg Boss," whose Tamil version he anchors on a private TV channel.
The MNM leader had also recently invoked the legacy of Ramachandran, a hugely popular leader, when he had said he was 'continuing' the dream of the former chief Minister to make Madurai the second capital of Tamil Nadu.
He had also hinted Ramachandran cannot be confined merely to DMK, from where he started his political journey or his founded AIADMK.
He had said he grew up 'on the lap of MGR' while several Tamil Nadu Ministers would not have even seen him personally.