AIADMK to move SC against State govt. in new secretariat building case

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami addressing an election meeting seeking votes for DMDK candidate for Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituency V. Vijaya Prabhakaran in Sivakasi on Thursday.

AIADMK would move the Supreme Court against State government for withdrawing an appeal filed in the Madras High Court in connection with irregularities in construction of new secretariat building during the previous DMK government, said its general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Addressing a public meeting here seeking votes for DMDK’s candidate for Virudhunagar Lok Sabha seat V. Vijaya Prabhakaran on Thursday, the former Chief Minister said AIADMK MP J. Jayavardhan had given a complaint of corruption to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption against the DMK for making ₹ 200 crore additional payment for construction of the building. However, no inquiry was conducted and the case was taken to the HC.

The DMK government has now withdrawn the appeal. “But, we will move the Supreme Court in this connection,” Mr. Palaniswami said. After the AIADMK came back to power in the State, an inquiry would be conducted into it, he added.

Taking strong exception to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s remarks that Mr. Palaniswami did not have the “spine”, the AIADMK general secretary said Mr. Stalin should realise his responsibility as a CM and should not use derogatory language. Stating that he had a healthy spine having toiled in the farms, he invited Mr. Stalin to test the strength of his spine.

“I know it is usual for politicians to get brickbats. But, our patience too has some limits. If you cross that our cadre will repay you in multiple times,” he said. 

Recalling that corruption charge was foisted against him, Mr. Palaniswami said even after the complainant withdrew it in the court, he insisted to conduct the case and eventually proved himself innocent. “I had the spine to face the case without any fear,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

With regard to Mr. Stalin’s accusation that Mr. Palaniswami was silent against Governor R.N. Ravi who was acting against the interests of Tamil Nadu, the Leader of the Opposition said it was the same DMK which had given a list of corruption charges against the AIADMK government to the then Governor. “For the DMK, the Governor was good then. But, if the same Governor questions the misdeeds of the DMK government, he is bad. Is the DMK not adopting double standards?” he asked.