Stalin urges Chief Minister to take stern action against Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji

Condemning a reported assault on a journalist of a Tamil magazine in Virudhunagar on Tuesday, Stalin said the attack on the journalist was a manifestation of the Minister’s provocative speeches leading to violence. Alleging that the violence was a result of political discord in Virudhunagar unit of the AIADMK, Stalin, in a statement, said the speeches and actions of the Minister, who subscribes to the political culture of violence and vitriolic rhetoric, were in the nature of inciting communal violence and riots in a communally harmonious Tamil Nadu.

Referring to a report revealing the difference of opinion between the Minister and an AIADMK MLA in appointment of Aavin managers there, Stalin who is also the Leader of Opposition expressed his condemnation to the attack which strangulates the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution. Advising the Chief Minister not to put the attack case to cold storage as usual, Stalin said that Minister Rajenthra Bhalaji, who has been shamelessly engaging in hate speech, was also spouting venom against the DMK. “Many statements of the Minister, who behaves like a super Chief Minister, for cheap political publicity, were venomous,” the Leader of Opposition remarked, wondering why the Governor had not initiated action against the egotistic Minister, who threatens to attack and even slit the tongue of people.

The DMK had earlier petitioned the Governor urging him to sack the Minister for making provocative statements.