OPS, Stalin spar over taking credit for electing Kalam as President

Stalin demanded that Panneerselvam apologise to Muslims of Ambur for his remarks on Kalam, failing which he said the DMK would start a big agitation.

The issue started when Panneerselvam, while addressing a meeting, said it was Jayalalithaa who first invited Kalam to be President and when support was sought from the then DMK leader M Karunanidhi, he sarcastically queried, “Who, that butcher Kalam?”

Stalin, who was campaigning from his van nearby on hearing of this, said it was Murasoli Maran who first signed for Kalam to become President, but when it was known that his chances of succeeding was limited, then Karunanidhi wanting a woman to become president had supported the candidature of Prathiba Patil.

Demanding that Panneerselvam either withdraw his remarks or apologise, he said it was Panneerselvam who derided Kalam. If Panneerselvam failed to apologise, then the DMK would mobilise an agitation on the issue, he added.

Stalin also said that the current AIADMK accepted NEET though Jayalalithaa when in power had opposed it vehemently. Today because of NEET, many students who scored good marks were unable to get medical admission which in turn lead to many suicides, he added.

Earlier, Stalin made an emotional appeal to workers of a private tannery at Ambur on Thursday during his campaign for party candidate Kathir Anand.

Stalin, who stayed overnight at a private guest house, told the workers that looking at them was like looking at members of a family. “Many of you asked me whether I had eaten and how my son was. The reason for this is the affection you shower on me and makes me realise that I will be the next chief minister. I will always raise my voice for your rights whether I am in power or not,” he said.

Stalin was accompanied by Duraimurugan, MLAs AP Nandakumar, R Gandhi, AC Vilwanathan and former minister EV Velu.

Strange as it may seem, the DMK which always prides itself on fighting for the rights of the media, ensured that the media persons were not allowed inside the private leather factory in Ambur where DMK president MK Stalin interacted and sought votes from workers on Thursday. Sources revealed that both the party and the leather factory owners barred the press from covering the happenings inside. However, friends of media persons among the workers inside soon provided visual and oral coverage through their mobile phones. Later, the DMK arranged for a meeting of local muthavallis with Stalin at a private marriage hall in the town. Here too the meeting was declared off limits for the media. When AIADMK rivals got wind of this, they alerted the Election Officials and soon flying squad officials and police led by Ambur DSP Sachidanandam and Tahsildar Sujatha rushed to the mandap and sealed it on the ground that the meeting was held without seeking permission from the Election Commission. But the sealing came late as by then the meeting was over and all had left.