CHENNAI: The bickering between allies AIADMK and BJP in Tamil Nadu over late Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai peaked on Monday with the regional social gathering snapping ties with the saffron organisation, saying it can’t tolerate any affront to the late Chief Minister and its different leaders. The social gathering skilled its weapons in opposition to BJP TN president Okay Annamalai, saying he was solely eager to “promote” himself and was subsequently concentrating on late Dravidian stalwarts Annadurai, fondly addressed as Anna (elder brother), EV Ramasamy Periyar and late AIADMK veterans MG Ramachandran (MGR) and J Jayalalithaa.
Responding, the BJP mentioned the Dravidian social gathering “has an issue,” with its development in addition to the rising stature of a younger chief like Annamalai. The event got here days after AIADMK Common Secretary Edappadi Okay Palaniswami met BJP veteran and Union House Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. Senior AIADMK chief D Jayakumar, lashing out at Annamalai for his criticism of Annadurai, mentioned his social gathering employees won’t tolerate any insult to the late CM.
Whereas Annamalai had made crucial remarks about AIADMK leaders together with the late J Jayalalithaa prior to now, the social gathering had sought that the previous be restrained. “Annamalai does not need an alliance with AIADMK though BJP employees need it. Ought to we tolerate all this criticism of our leaders? Why ought to we feature you? BJP cannot set foot right here. Your votebank is understood. You’re recognized due to us,” the previous minister instructed reporters right here whereas lashing out on the BJP and its state unit president.
“We won’t tolerate anymore (the criticism of leaders). So far as the alliance is anxious, it isn’t there. BJP shouldn’t be with AIADMK. (the matter) will be determined solely in the course of the election. That is our stand,” he mentioned. Requested if this was his private opinion, Jayakumar requested, “have I ever spoken to you in that capability. I solely speak what the social gathering decides.” A tall chief, Annadurai based the DMK in 1949 and in 1967 heralded Tamil Nadu’s first non-Congress authorities post-independence and is revered throughout social gathering strains.
MGR, who based the AIADMK in 1972, named it the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, as he had nice reverence for Annadurai. Jayakumar mentioned Anna was a revered scholar who ushered in TN’s development and that “we revere him. “Our social gathering has his (Annadurai) identify. To advertise himself, he belittles Periyar. He did not budge even after condemnation. It’s in opposition to coalition dharma; no AIADMK employee will settle for this. Annamalai is unfit to be a pacesetter and he’s eager solely about selling him. What proper have you ever bought to speak about Periyar, EPS (Palaniswami), Amma (Jayalalithaa) and MGR. AIADMK employees won’t ever settle for this,” Jayakumar added.
“He’s conceited. Alliance (between the 2) shouldn’t be there, will be determined solely throughout election. Immediately he speaks about our leaders– how can we settle for criticism of leaders. If he’s not budging even after (AIADMK) taking on with (BJP) excessive command, then it means such issues are occurring with their data,” he mentioned.
The AIADMK had nothing to lose over the alliance-related improvement. “They’re the losers,” he mentioned concerning the BJP. He repeatedly claimed the BJP and Annamalai will fare badly electorally with out the AIADMK. He warned that if Annamalai does not stop from concentrating on such tall leaders, he will probably be given a becoming reply. Responding to the matter, Amar Prasad Reddy, shut aide of Annamalai, mentioned the AIADMK was unable to face the rising recognition of the BJP and its state chief, and subsequently made such an announcement.
“Annamalai is a principled politician, he can’t bend for corruption or incorrect insurance policies. He was solely referring to some historic occasion,” relating to Annadurai, Reddy, BJP State President, Sports activities and Ability Improvement Cell, instructed PTI. Annamalai additionally spoke extremely of Annadurai, he added. “They do not like BJP’s development and recognition and the youths’ response to Annamalai. Most likely that is the period the place we’re shifting from a faux Dravidian ideology to a nationalist one,” Reddy added.
BJP is getting very sturdy roots and “they’re unable to digest a 38-year-old man creating a big impact,” along with his “En Mann, En Makkal” padayatra (foot march), he mentioned. “We can’t retract any of Annamalai’s assertion as they’re factual,” Reddy asserted. AIADMK and BJP have been sparring over the previous couple of days over Annamalai’s criticism of Annadurai.
On September 11, main an illustration in opposition to Hindu Non secular and Charitable Endowments Minister P Okay Sekar Babu for his participation within the ‘Sanatana Dharma’ eradication convention right here, Annamalai had made a touch upon Annadurai. The BJP chief mentioned Anna had within the 1950s made a crucial comment in Madurai in opposition to the Hindu religion at an occasion, and that it was staunchly opposed by freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.
Senior AIADMK chief and former minister C Ve Shanmugam had earlier mentioned there isn’t any foundation or proof for what Annamalai has claimed and that the BJP chief has no locus standi to touch upon Anna. Former ministers and AIADMK leaders Jayakumar and Sellur Okay Raju additionally had strongly opposed Annamalai’s comment. It was in opposition to civility to talk in poor health of departed leaders, they’d mentioned.
Chatting with reporters in Coimbatore on Sunday, Annamalai requested if what he had mentioned about Anna was incorrect. He asserted that he’s in politics to guard Sanatana Dharma and Tamil tradition. He insisted that he didn’t converse in poor health of Anna and had solely talked about an occasion from the pages of historical past and the style wherein Muthuramalinga Thevar had defended Sanatana Dharma.
To substantiate his declare, the BJP chief mentioned, he had copies of reports reviews that appeared within the month of June in 1956 in a high nationwide English day by day. Shanmugam had mentioned as Annamalai had criticised the Dravidian icon even whereas the AIADMK and BJP have been in alliance, it led to a suspicion that he might have an ulterior motive, and puzzled whether or not the BJP chief, by “becoming a member of arms with the DMK,” doesn’t need the NDA to win the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats whereas neighbouring Puducherry has one.
