CHENNAI: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday launched a broadside against the opposition DMK, invoking the Enforcement Directorate (ED) letters and the 50-year-old Sarkaria Commission report to accuse the party of indulging in “scientific corruption” during its stints in power.
Responding to the allegations outside the House, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin called the CM’s address a “memorised cinema script” that sought to deflect to decades-old issues without responding to his pointed questions on the state’s law and order.
In his 45-minute reply to the debate on the Home Department, Vijay targeted DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, current party president MK Stalin, and LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin as alleged beneficiaries of corruption, triggering loud protests from DMK members, who later staged a walkout from the Assembly.
Citing ED documents, the CM listed out alleged corruption during the DMK regime in the municipal administration department and in Tasmac. ‘Malpractice, fraud, manipulation, abuse of power, and organised crime syndicate’ were the words used by ED on graft during the DMK regime, the CM said.
Citing the ED report, Vijay alleged that 7.5% to 10% of the project cost of developmental projects was collected as commission in the name of party funds by the DMK leadership. Vijay also targeted “Karur gang”, and accused V Ashok Kumar, brother of former minister Senthil Balaji, of orchestrating fraud, bid manipulation, and illicit money transfers linked to state transport department and other contracts.
Speaking to reporters after the DMK staged a walkout from the House, Udhayanidhi called Vijay a “dummy” whose rise to power was an “accident”. Alleging that three CM associates — Vishnu Reddy, Anil Reddy and Suji Reddy — were in full control of the mining activities, Udhaya said he would release evidence supporting his allegations in phases.
‘Politics not excuse to demean women’
In a veiled reference to the recent comments made by Udhayanidhi Stalin in the context of an actor, Vijay said politics could not be an excuse to demean people, particularly women. Law would take its course against those making such remarks, he added
