MLA ridicules Natarajan for DMK spin to protest

Provoked by Natarajan’s latest statement that Stalin should tender an apology for inciting students to protest for jallikattu, the DMK got one of its junior MLAs from Mannargudi, the native of Sasikala, TRB Raja to issue a statement against Natarajan. 

The MLA described Natarajan’s statement as a “shameful” one that would draw as much public attention as a cartoon does. Seeking to know if Natarajan was voicing the views of the ‘family’ or the BJP, Raja said that it was Natarajan who ought to have tendered an apology to the AIADMK cadre after Jayalalithaa’s demise. 

Referring to his grave silence during the reign of late Jayalalithaa, the Mannargudi MLA said the former had returned from ‘political vanavas’ and started engaging in such “immature politics” against DMK working president Stalin due to his frustration. 

Raja in a statement attributed Natarjan’s rant to the due respect Stalin had given to democratically elected Chief Minister O Panneerselvam advised Natarajan to concentrate on his Lexus car and disproportionate assets cases instead of levelling cheap allegations against Stalin. 

The Mannargudi MLA accused Natarajan of abetting BJP’s vote bank politics by calling the student protesters anti-national and anti-socials.  Earlier, on Sunday in Pudukottai Natarajan said “Stalin diverted the students’ stir by holding rail roko and hunger strike agitations.” 

“By instigating students, a situation was created to bring bad name for them, did not you (DMK, its working chief Stalin) send in mischief makers (for the protests)? I have proof for that. 

Stalin should apologise for it.” he added. He said action should be taken against those who were behind the violence including some police personnel who face allegations in this connection vis-a-vis the protests for jallikattu. He said the amendment made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by Tamil Nadu “is permanent,” and jallikattu could be held without hindrance. 

Natarajan said animal rights advocacy group PETA which opposed jallikattu against Tamil sentiments “gained entry” into the country during the previous Congress regime at the Centre when DMK was also part of the Union Cabinet.