Chennai/Villupuram, April 8 A remark allegedly made by AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami targeting Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday triggered a controversy, and the latter strongly condemned the comment, asserting that he was not afraid of death and that he would go to any length to protect the people.
Addressing a rally in Chennai, Palaniswami asked: "During the DMK regime, was there a drought, flood, or cyclone? Or did the coronavirus pandemic occur? There was nothing; if this (pandemic) had emerged, I would have (died)."
When the DMK assumed office in May 2021, the state was in the midst of the second wave of the pandemic, while it first emerged during the AIADMK regime.
Addressing a public meeting in Villupuram, Stalin said that Palaniswami, driven by the fear of defeat, speaks recklessly and makes substandard statements.
Stalin said this evening in Chennai, the AIADMK chief asked whether the coronavirus pandemic emerged during the DMK regime. "Palaniswami has said that if the pandemic had emerged during my tenure, I would have (died)."
Sharpening his attack on Palaniswami, the CM said, "I am not someone who worries or is afraid of death. In 1976, even before you (AIADMK chief) joined politics, I was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act when I was just 23 years old, and I was subjected to unspeakable torture in prison. I spent a year in prison with courage and fortitude. My father, my leader Kalaignar (late DMK patriarch, former chief minister M Karunanidhi), sent me to prison saying that I had to face all these in public life. If I did not fear the prison, why would I fear the coronavirus?"
The CM continued, "When everyone was fearing the coronavirus, I wore a PPE kit and went inside a Covid ward (in order to inspect). I will tell you something that has not been disclosed so far. I did not tell anyone that I was going to inspect the Covid ward. My wife, Durga, got upset and did not speak to me for a week. This is the truth. I will go to any length to save the people."
Recalling his long innings in public life, wherein he had the opportunity to work with iconic leaders, including Periyar EV Ramasamy, CN Annadurai, Kamarajar, and MGR, the CM said, however, that he was now constrained to rebut people like Palaniswami.
Senior DMK leaders, including Thamizhachi Thangapandian and Kanimozhi, strongly condemned Palaniswami for the alleged derogatory remark. Kanimozhi said: "Tamil Nadu will never forgive you. After the elections, you will not even have a place in this land."