'No secret relationship between DMK and BJP', CM Stalin slams Edappadi

CHENNAI: There is no secret relationship between the DMK and BJP, and the DMK need not go crawling for posts and favours like Leader of Opposition (LoP) Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), said Chief Minister M K Stalin, responding to an attack by EPS.

Speaking after solemnising the marriage of Dileepan, son of DMK Thiruvottiyur MLA K P Shankar, with Vishali, near here, CM Stalin said, “Just because we invited Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the release of a commemorative coin for the birth centenary of former CM 'Kalaignar' M Karunanidhi, they have floated a theory that we are maintaining ties with the BJP and warming up to the BJP. It is a mere fodder for the media. Each media house is debating the issue from a different perspective. Be it laurels or brickbats, it is always the DMK that is being targeted. There is no need for us to maintain secret ties.”

Addressing EPS's criticism that the DMK was secretly trying to remain in the good books of the BJP, the CM noted that even in a recent executive meeting, the ruling party had passed a resolution against the saffron party. "The DMK does not have to stoop to low levels like EPS just for securing favours. Even former prime minister Indira Gandhi once said that whether the DMK supports or opposes a party, it will do so with ethics," he recalled.

On EPS’s allegation that the Tamil language was overlooked in the commemorative coin, Stalin clarified, “First, he (EPS) must know politics or must have general knowledge. Commemorative coins released by the union government for all leaders are in Hindi and English. However, when a commemorative coin was released for former CM CN Annadurai, our leader Kalaignar ensured that the coin was inscribed with Anna's signature in Tamil. Likewise, the slogan 'Tamil will win' ('Tamil vellum') which was used mostly by Kalaignar, has been inscribed in the commemorative coin released for Kalaignar now. It is worrisome that we have a LoP who has criticised the coin without taking a look at it and learning about these details.”

CM Stalin went on to cite the absence of the union government representatives when EPS released a commemorative coin for former CM MG Ramachandran, and remarked, “That is the kind of respect accorded to him."

He further added, "When we invited Rajnath Singh for the event on Sunday, he offered to wait as long as required until the event was over. That is the pride and speciality of DMK and Kalaignar.”

Stalin also wondered on what merit was the AIADMK, who had not organised a single condolence meet for former CM J Jayalalithaa even years after her demise, criticising Kalaignar’s commemorative coin release event.

On Rahul Gandhi not being invited for the coin release event

The chief minister observed that since the coin unveiling ceremony was a central government-organised event, an invitation was not extended to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

'Lost sleep over Rajnath’s tribute to Kalaignar: Stalin'

DMK president Stalin added that the speech delivered by Rajnath Singh in honour of Kalaignar was much better than the one the DMK and its allies could do and should be engraved in history.

He also said that the happiness caused by Rajnath’s tribute to Kalaignar left him sleepless last night.

The union defence minister insisted that he must visit Kalaignar’s memorial, the CM revealed. "We did not ask him to. He insisted. He viewed the entire memorial and said that he had not seen one like this before. He caught us off guard again at the coin release function. He asked everyone in the auditorium to rise and pay tribute to Kalaignar. I am unable to forget the scene. I lost my sleep last night due to the happiness caused by the event," Stalin expressed.

(With inputs from Daily Thanthi)