Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday criticised the AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for opposing the establishment of schools and colleges under the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) in the State and accused him of becoming the “original voice” of the BJP.

Speaking at a government function in Tiruvarur to mark the distribution of welfare assistance and inauguration of development projects in the district, he said there were legal provisions for establishing educational institutions under the HR and CE Act. “Former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran had opened the Palaniandavar Polytechnic College. And, you (Mr. Palaniswami) had opened additional buildings for the college during your last tenure. Is it wrong if we open colleges now?” he asked.

Mr. Palaniswami, who was the ‘dubbing voice’ of the BJP earlier, has now become its ‘original voice’, Mr. Stalin said, adding that: “Even BJP leaders are not saying that colleges (of the HR and CE Department) should not be opened.”

Chief Minister M.K.Stalin distributing welfare assistance at a government function in Tiruvarur on Thursday.
| Photo Credit:
DIPR

Mr. Stalin wondered why the Leader of the Opposition was opposed to education and whether he would raise his voice against Governor R.N. Ravi for delaying assent to the Bill proposing the establishment of the Kalaignar University in Kumbakonam. “Irrespective of whether he questions the Union government or not, we will face the issue legally and establish the university,” he asserted.

Taking a dig at Mr. Palaniswami’s State-wide ‘Makkalai Kaapom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom’ roadshow, Mr. Stalin charged that the AIADMK leader had hitched the party to a group that is against calling the State ‘Tamil Nadu’.

Accusing Mr. Palaniswami of betraying the interests of his own party, Tamil Nadu, and Tamils, Mr. Stalin said the DMK had already retrieved the State from his misrule. “We have set right the ills, and today, Tamil Nadu’s growth rate of 9.69% is the highest in the country, even as per the Union government’s own admission. The Centre could neither hide nor deny this,” he asserted.

This was despite the Union government denying funds to Tamil Nadu. “Even our share of the Goods and Services Tax is not being given properly. There are no special schemes, and we have been denied funds meant for school education.”

“The Union government was refusing to publish the Keeladi excavation report to cover up the greatness of Tamils. On top of these are issues such as delimitation and the imbroglio over electoral rolls now. How could you unabashedly join hands with those who have deprived Tamil Nadu of all its rights?” Mr. Stalin asked Mr. Palaniswami.

Given  Mr. Palaniswami’s ‘track record’, the people of the State will not be deceived by his campaign, Mr. Stalin said and called upon the people to stand united with him in the ‘Oraniyil Tamil Nadu’ campaign [of the DMK] to protect the interests of the State.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Stalin participated in a membership enrolment campaign of the DMK and visited a few houses on Sannadhi Street and nearby areas in Tiruvarur town to enlist new members. He also inspected a Social Justice Hostel for college students at Kidarankondan.