Chennai, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday dared Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to “open” the three corruption files on his table and take action on them.
Initiating a debate in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi recalled that the chief minister mentioned three files and that he was waiting for an appropriate time to open them. “The chief minister has accused our previous DMK regime mentioning not to force him to reveal the details. I insist that he open the files and take action.
Why are you afraid to reveal and why are you delaying,” Udhayanidhi said, making a remark on Vijay’s decision, which was later expunged by Speaker J C D Prabhakar.
Intervening, Minister N Anand maintained that the government possessed full evidence regarding the files and assured the House that legal action would be taken at the appropriate time. Simultaneously, the Speaker dismissed Udhayanidhi’s accusation that the chief minister depended on others for the decision-making and asserted that the CM operated entirely on his independent judgment, intellect, and administrative capabilities. Udhayanidhi also rejected the state government’s proposal to provide an official vehicle to all MLAs, saying the DMK, which has 59 MLAs in the House, would decline these vehicles. Earlier reporting noted: DMK rejects Vijay’s free cars for 59 MLAs, Udhayanidhi Stalin says ‘government in debt’ Days after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced free official vehicles for every legislator in the state, the opposition DMK on Friday rejected the offer, citing the state’s mounting debt. Earlier reporting noted: “Since the TVK government has been saying from day one after assuming power that the government is in debt, all 59 DMK MLAs have decided not to avail this offer.
Udhayanidhi’s angry retort follows Chief Minister Vijay’s assertion in the Assembly on August 19 warning opposition DMK against persistently demanding evidence of past regime corruption, stating he already possessed “incriminating files” from three government departments on his table. We urge the government to provide free cars to MLAs only after verifying their election affidavits, whether they already own cars and what their financial status is,” Udhayanidhi said.
Earlier reporting noted: Earlier, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai criticised the proposal, saying the government should not spend public money on what he described as a luxury that was not a priority.
“Initially, I didn’t want to make a statement. But the opposition is demanding evidence. It was not a random statement. The files are on my table with proof. Don’t force me to reveal.
The “incriminating files” have already been reviewed and are currently kept on his table, he said, warning the opposition that he would reveal the details at the right time. A week ago, Finance Minister had said that three department files are on my table following a review. I shall do it at an appropriate time,” Vijay had told the Assembly addressing criticism from the opposition.
