CM Vijay Levels Corruption Charges Against DMK in Assembly Reply; DMK Walks Out

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, replying in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on September 7 to the debate on the state's law and order situation, turned much of his speech into an attack on the opposition DMK, accusing it of a long history of corruption. The reply came during the ongoing budget session, after the DMK had criticised the government's handling of law and order.

Vijay alleged that successive DMK governments had been associated with organised corruption and that money had been collected in the name of party funds over several decades. He referred to the Sarkaria Commission report of the 1970s, the Veeranam issue, and what he described as the collection of funds by a 'Karur gang'.

He also cited documents that he linked to Enforcement Directorate inquiries, including matters relating to the municipal administration department and the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), and named DMK president M.K. Stalin and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin in the course of the speech.

DMK legislators protested during the speech, raising slogans, displaying pamphlets and moving towards the Speaker's podium, with some sitting on the floor of the House. They demanded that the Leader of the Opposition be allowed to respond immediately; when the Speaker did not accede, the DMK members walked out of the Assembly.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Udhayanidhi Stalin said the party had listened to the Chief Minister's reply before walking out. He said Vijay had spoken about the police for the first several minutes and had then made allegations against the DMK without producing evidence, and accused the Chief Minister of using diversion tactics instead of answering the opposition's questions on law and order, adding that any allegation must be backed by proof.