"Highly condemnable": Palaniswami slams DMK's Tiruchi Siva over remarks on K Kamaraj

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 17 (ANI): Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Tamil Nadu over Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam leader Tiruchi Siva's statement on late Congress leader K Kamaraj, AIADMK General Secretary Edapaddi K Palaniswami termed the DMK leader's statement "highly condemnable."
While addressing the public meeting in Perambur, DMK leader Tiruchi Siva had made controversial remarks about Congress stalwart K Kamaraj, claiming that he could not live without air conditioners.
"The speech by DMK Deputy General Secretary Trichy Siva, which tarnishes the great fame of the eminent leader Kamarajar, who opened the eyes of education, is highly condemnable," Palaniswami wrote on 'X'.
Calling the claims of Tiruchi Siva a "blatant lie," the AIADMK General Secretary mentioned that events surrounding the life of K Kamaraj are recorded in history.
"When the events surrounding the passing of Karmaveerar Kamarajar are already recorded in history, how big a blatant lie is it to say that Kamarajar held Karunanidhi's hand and praised him? Is there no limit to the DMK's distortion of history?" Palaniswami asked.
He highlighted that talks by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and DMK leaders are all ironic and asked if it is not right to have controversial debates about an "eminent" leader then wasn't it Tiruchi Siva who started all the controversy.
"The talk by Mr. Stalin and the DMK about the eminent leader Kamarajar is all ironic. If it is not right to have controversial debates about the eminent leader, then who started that controversy? Wasn't it your party's Rajya Sabha group leader, DMK's Deputy General Secretary Trichy Siva? Based on that, isn't it your DMK minions who are spreading slander about Aiya Kamarajar all over social media?," Palaniswami wrote on 'X'.
The former Tamil Nadu CM mentioned that no one has forgotten "Murasoli cartoons of Karunanidhi about Kamaraj." He further stated that DMK themselves start a controversy and themselves end it. Palaniswami asked MK Stalin to stop acting.
"No one has forgotten the old Murasoli cartoons of Karunanidhi about Kamarajar. Isn't it the DMK that, with the long-standing malice Karunanidhi harbored against Karmaveerar Kamarajar, creates such a controversy to dull Kamarajar's fame through petty politics? He himself plants the bomb, they say. He himself pretends to defuse it! Stop acting, MK Stalin sir! It's clear from the way you twist slanderous speech what your intentions are! Let me say one thing clearly--neither you nor your lackeys can ever diminish even a bit of the fame of the eminent leader Kamarajar, who worked for the people!" he wrote on 'X'.
BJP leader Annamalai on Thursday questioned Congress over their "silence" on Tiruchi Siva's comments. He also asked whether Congress would leave the DMK alliance and contest alone to "save their dignity."
"Is Congress still silent after DMK speaking factually incorrect about K. Kamaraj? Is Congress ready to leave the DMK alliance? Is Congress prepared to contest alone to save its dignity?" he said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged leaders to avoid debates, and "to not give room to the intentions of evil-minded people who plan to stir trouble and revel in it! "He said that it is not right to engage in "controversial debates" in public about K Kamraj, "a true Tamilian," as Stalin described.
"Do not give room to the intentions of evil-minded people who plan to stir trouble and revel in it! Father Periyar was the one who praised the great leader Kamarajar as a 'true Tamilian." Stalin wrote in a post on X.
"It is not right to have controversial debates in public about such a great leader, a great Tamilian. Any opinion shared should be in a manner that upholds the dignity of respected leaders," he added.
He urged the alliance to unite and fulfill the dreams of Kamraj. "Let us all unite and work to fulfill the dreams of the great leader who dedicated his entire life to building social justice and secular harmony! Let us avoid pointless debates!" he said. (ANI)