T.N. won’t witness any remarkable change if Udhayanidhi is made Deputy CM, says Union Minister L. Murugan

Union Minister L Murugan dismisses speculation of Udhayanidhi's elevation, denies BJP-DMK closeness, urges action on sexual assault cases.

Union Minister of State L Murugan on Tuesday contended that there would not be any remarkable change or development in Tamil Nadu, if State Sports Minister Udhayanidhi was elevated as Deputy Chief Minister.

Asked by a journalist about the speculation over Mr Udhayanidhi’s elevation in the Cabinet, he said,  “The irreparable harm being caused to Tamil Nadu by the DMK and its ministers now will only worsen further if Mr. Udhayanidhi is made Deputy Chief Minister.”

 He denied the speculations that the DMK was inching closer to the BJP after the Karunanidhi commemorative coin release function held in Chennai recently with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh releasing the coin.

 “It is not a political event... It is a function oranised by the State Government for releasing the coin in which the Defence Minister participated. The one-off event cannot be viewed as a political development bringing the BJP and the DMK closer,” he said.

 On the Tamil Nadu Government’s charge that the Union Government was not releasing funds for the Chennai metro rail project’s second phase, Mr. Murugan said the funds would be released only after the State Government submits all mandatory documents.

 “Since the Tamil Nadu Government is yet to submit the requisite documents, the funds cannot be released,” said the minister while claiming that the BJP government at the Centre had given Rs. 11 lakh crore to Tamil Nadu in the past ten years.

 On the sexual assault cases in Krishnagiri and West Bengal, Mr. Murugan said the State Governments should take punitive and impartial action to crush such incidents in future. The State Governments should strive hard to ensure the conviction of the sexual predators, which should send very strong signal to the criminals.