The statement on law and order in Tamil Nadu by Pon Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State For Finance, Surface Transport and Shipping the other day at Chennai has led to a war of words between the ruling AIADMK and the BJP.
Speaking to reporters at Chennai on Wednesday, Radhakrishnan had repeated his stand that Tamil Nadu has become a haven for terrorists, extremists and anti-national elements. “The agitation held by these elements at Marina Beach in January 2017 demanding the conducting of Jallikkattu (taming of bulls) over riding the Supreme Court order was the beginning of anti-national activities in the State. Then we had many such agitations demanding the cancellation of the methane gas extraction project at Mannargudi, shale gas extraction project at Neduvasal and the agitation demanding the cancellation of the proposed Nutrino Observatory at Theni. The anti-Sterlite agitation which culminated in police firing resulting in the death of 13 persons was the latest incident of these anti-national activities,” Radhakrishnan.has said.
Marudhu Alaguraj, chief editor, Namathu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, the official mouthpiece of the AIADMK, said Radhakrishnan’s charge was nothing but a political statement. “He wats to stay in the limelight and hence the statement. There is no semblance of truth in what he has said,” Alaguraj told The Pioneer. He said the law and order in Tamil Nadu was good and nobody would be able to point out any discrepancies in the same.
“Radhakrishnan, while alleging that Tamil Nadu has become a safe haven for terrorists and extremists is forgetting the fact that law and order is the responsibility of the State and the Centre. The TN Government is doing its best to keep the State as a garden of peace and happiness. Could we tell the same about other StatesIJ let him furnish the exact details with evidence that the State is home to terrorists ann extremists. The statements he is makings are only to get cheap publicity and without checking facts,” said Alaguraj.
D Jayakumar, Tamil Nadu Minister for Fisheries and the official spokesman of the Government had lambasted the Union Minister for his charges. “Radhakrishnan is forgetting the fact that he is a Union Minister and is speaking like a man in the street,” retorted Jayakumar.
Interestingly, the war of words between the AIADMK and the BJP comes at a time when all political outfits in the State portray the parties as allies. MK stalin, working president of the DMK always allege that the Edappadi Palaniswamy-led AIADMK Government was continuing in office with the “active connivance” of the BJP. “The BJP is trying to enter Tamil Nadu piggy riding the AIADMK,” said Stalin. But the ground realities are different according to CM Edappadi Palaniswamy. “The policy of AIADMK has been to maintain cordial ties with the party ruling the Centre so as to get protect the interests of the State. This was taught to us by party founder MGR and Amma ( Jayalalithaa, the late CM). We are following the same guidelines,” said Palaniswamy.
