Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday criticized the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in his maiden speech and assured strict action against anyone involved in corruption.
The Chief Minister said corruption was happening not only under the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) – liquor stores run by the state government – in the name of “party money” but also in several other government departments.
“I am saying it even now. We will not touch a single paisa of people’s money. We will not allow anyone to touch it, and if anyone does, we will not let him get away with it. We will not spare anyone involved,” he said in his speech under the motion of thanks for Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s June 18 speech. He added: “With every corruption emerging, every mask will fall. Many people are trembling with fear but they are still distorting us.”
While the Prime Minister was speaking, Opposition Leader Udhyanidhi Stalin and his party MLAs stood up and raised objections after which they walked out of the Assembly.
Regarding the objection raised by the Opposition parties to the singing of the national anthem twice in the State Assembly during the Governor’s address, the Prime Minister highlighted that on August 2, 2021, during the centenary celebration of the State Legislative Council at which the President unveiled the portrait of former Chief Minister M Karunandhi, the national anthem was sung twice and before the Tamil Tai Vasthhu (Tamil Prayer Song).
Speaker J C D Prabhakar interjected, saying: “This has already happened in this very House. I would like to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for providing this timely evidence.”
Speaking to the media outside the Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin refuted Vijay’s claims that the national anthem was sung before Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu on the day of unveiling of M Karunidhi’s portrait.
“It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister is not even aware of this protocol. On that day, while unveiling the photo, the President participated and as per the protocol, the procedure was followed to sing the national anthem first and then again later at the conclusion of the event,” Udhayanidhi Stalin said.
In his nearly hour-long speech, Vijay criticized the DMK for their alleged comments that the TVK government does not know anything how to govern. “It’s true. We don’t know anything. So much so that our government officials and ministers know how to serve the public but they don’t know at all how to plunder public money.”
“They do not know how to simplify tenders but only know how to award promotions and conduct consultations for job transfers, but they certainly do not know how to extort money for those promotions and transfers,” he added.
Regarding the frequent power outages in the state, he said: “Although Tamil Nadu has a power surplus, the reasons for these power outages are mismanagement that occurred in the past, defects arising in electrical equipment and transformers, and deliberate actions of some individuals.”
To help in this issue, and to coordinate efforts to restore power supply and quickly correct the unexpected power outage occurring during the night, 10 high-level monitoring committees and 125 special power restoration patrol vehicles have been deployed to monitor the situation 24 hours a day, he said.
Attacking the Prime Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin later said: “Thinking of the Assembly’s live camera as a movie camera, he continued to speak, and the speaker did his best to ensure that it was filmed in ‘one take’ without any interruption from the opposition – this is absolutely unacceptable.”
“The Prime Minister’s response included nothing but baseless allegations and dialogues. There was absolutely nothing related to power outages or farmers’ issues,” the opposition leader said.
Meanwhile, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Tuesday took exceptions over comments made by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay alleging that if any accusation is leveled in the Assembly, they must submit the evidence to the Speaker before pointing it out.
“However, this tradition is applied only to the opposition, while the ruling party does not follow it. In my opinion, this should apply to the Prime Minister as well,” AIADMK MLA from Vedharanyam OS Manian told reporters. But he did not specify what the accusation was leveled by the Prime Minister in the Council.
Referring to the incident that occurred on June 21 at a private seafood processing facility in which 9 people had died as of Tuesday, Manian criticized the response given by the minister in the Assembly on June 22.
Labor Welfare Minister J Mohamed Farfas informed the Assembly on Monday that the government will strictly implement accountability based on the findings of the high-level probe committee into the tragedy that occurred at a seafood processing unit in neighboring Tiruvallur district.
He said: “When that minister was responding, did he respond with due respect for the lives lost? No. Did he express any concern about the condition of those hospitalized for treatment? The minister was giving theatrical dialogues. What kind of situation is this? It is a pathetic situation.”
Regarding the statements made by the DMK about playing the national anthem twice on June 18 when Governor Rajendra Arlikar delivered his maiden speech in the Assembly, he said that in the House they are constantly discussing discussions on why the national anthem should be sung twice.
“This is not a big problem. It is a standard protocol. If you ask what has been followed over the ages: during a government function in which dignitaries participate, it is customary to sing the national anthem at that government function. And if the same function continues – even after the dignitaries leave – the national anthem will not be sung again there. Right?”, he asked.
However, Manian said: “If the ceremony is declared over, the national anthem must be sung again. Isn’t that the usual practice? To go and discuss this matter for two full days?”
He further said: “No one seems to know how to explain it – neither ministers nor even the Speaker seem to know how to tell the House that this is the actual tradition.”
He noted that the ruling party side of the Assembly still has a lot to learn, and there are many traditions and rules they need to understand and follow.
