Chennai: Support for Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) has come from unexpected quarters that, too, from the enemy camp. But, more than love for PTR, the intent appears to be to corner the ruling DMK. Tamil Nadu BJP president on Friday took strong exception to the demotion meted out to PTR in this week's Cabinet reshuffle carried out by Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin. Having landed PTR in a soup with the release of the two audio tapes, the saffron leader dropped another bombshell – coming out with 'DMK Files' Part 2 in July first week.
“PTR was the brand ambassador of the Dravidian model. He was the foremost in articulating the achievements of the Dravidian model and TN, particularly of the DMK govt, across the country. “Shunting him to the IT Dept is only because of the PTR tapes, which is completely unacceptable. In no way he is at fault. It is the DMK's first family which is culpable,” Annamalai told the media here.
In the two audio tapes, PTR is purportedly saying that the Chief Minister's son and Sports Minister, Udhayanidhi, and son-in-law, V Sabareesan, have amassed Rs 30,000 crore in a year which even their grandfathers could not in their lifetime. Though PTR has dismissed them as fake and doctored with Artificial Intelligence while Stalin termed it as malevolent 'cheap politics', it had created ripples within the DMK and in political circles. And to wriggle out, PTR had gone to the extent of eulogising Udhayanidhi as the GenNext face of Tamil Nadu and holding Sabareesan as his guide and pillar of support.
Taunting the Chief Minister for stripping PTR of the Finance portfolio, Annamalai said only on January 22 this year, Stalin had paid encomiums on PTR for his handling of the finance portfolio, inheriting a depleted treasury. “I need to explain how excellent the performance of our Finance Minister is. To be very frank, for three generations his family has dedicated itself to the development of this state. The finance portfolio is the most important of all ministries. What we inherited was a precarious financial situation, but in mobilising revenue and in formulating the government's policies and programmes, he had marshalled his enormous professional experience with total commitment,” he quoted Stalin as having said and asked what prompted him to strip such a person of that responsibility.
Also read: Stripped of finance portfolio, PTR takes demotion in his stride
Furthermore, he questioned the rationale behind entrusting the Industries portfolio with the newly inducted minister TRB Rajaa, son of former Union Minister TR Baalu, alleging that his family has interests in various businesses, including liquor manufacturing. Unfazed by the defamation suits filed by the state government on behalf of the Chief Minister and another by DMK veteran TR Baalu, Annamalai said 'DMK Files' Part 2, will be an expose on 21 DMK leaders, including new ministers in the Stalin cabinet. Part 1, a short video released on April 14, lists corruption charges against Stalin and the “disproportionate assets” of the party leaders and ministers, including Udhayanidhi, V Sabareesan, Kanimozhi, MP, and TR Baalu among others.
He dared the Chief Minister to file one more libel suit about the PTR tapes. “Why shift PTR and for what reason?” he asked adding “It was I who had charged you with taking bribes in the award of tender for Chennai Metro Rail. Similarly, I stand by what the PTR tapes say. There can't be two yardsticks. Please file another libel suit. I want the tapes to reach the court for forensic examination. I am ready to submit the entire length of the tape in the court, lasting for more than an hour. I have not released the remainder of tapes three and four, as that would result in PTR being used as a scapegoat.”
On the libel cases and legal notices issued to him so far by the DMK and its leaders besides those close to the party, Annamalai said, “This is the first time in the country that Rs 1,461 crore has been demanded for defamation from a common man.”
