PTR audio issue: Stalin refuses to wade into "cheap politics"
Chennai (PTI): Days after the PTR audio files created a flutter in Tamil Nadu's political circles, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday dismissed as "cheap politics" the clip, in which his cabinet colleague and the state finance minister is purported to have made some remarks about the assets of the DMK's first family.
In his first response to the issue, Stalin, president of the ruling DMK, said Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) has already responded to the matter twice.
"He (PTR) himself has given two detailed explanations on this matter. I have time only to do my duty for people. I do not want to talk anything further on this and give publicity to those indulging in cheap politics," Stalin said in his regular "Ungalil Oruvan" question and answer series.
In two audio clips released by state BJP chief K Annamalai last month, PTR is puported to have made some remarks about Stalin's son Udhayanidhi and son-in-law V Sabareesan, which the finance minister has categorically denied.
He had insisted that they were digitally altered material using advanced technology.
To a question on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remarks in Telangana that Muslim reservation will be done away with if the saffron party came to power there, the DMK chief said it showed "a grudge on minorities."
"He has spoken so for electoral gains. The BJP leadership has an imagination that only spewing hatred on Muslims will satisfy Hindus. It is not true. The majority of our electorate that did not vote for BJP is actually Hindus. They wish for peace and brotherhood. The BJP attempts to impose its hate agenda on some sections and project it as the sentiments of the majority," he alleged.
He charged the BJP's "social media troll army accounts" act as the propaganda machine to spread lies and fake news and also claimed certain media organisations "have turned to be the mouthpiece of " the saffron party.
"The BJP pushes its hate politics with the help of such factors. In a country that has secularism in the preamble of its Constitution, the home minister speaking like this is a breach of Constitution. People are watching everything," he added.
"We believe people's conscience will not sleep," Stalin added.
On the government led by him set to complete two years in office later this week, Stalin expressed joy and satisfaction over delivering not only on a majority of the promises made ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls but also many new welfare initiatives launched after the party came to power.
On the issue of alleged delay in Governors' nod for state bills, he referred to the bill passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking for a timeframe for their approval and expressed joy that certain other non-BJP ruled states were willing to follow suit.
"Tamil Nadu is the capital for federalism. The bill was passed on that basis," he added.
To a question on alleged irregularities pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in certain sectors during the previous AIADMK regime, Stalin said appropriate action will follow.
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BJP workers protest Bengaluru event on Umar Khalid, taken into preventive custody
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP workers, led by former Bengaluru Mayor M Gautham Kumar, staged a protest outside the heavily fortified BIC in the city on Tuesday ahead of an event.
The editors of the book “Umar Khalid and His World” have planned a reading of excerpts from the book at the venue, followed by a discussion involving several “historians and intellectuals”.
The BJP activists raised slogans demanding the cancellation of the event. They attempted to enter the venue by breaking through the barricades put up by the police.
Police personnel deployed at the spot took the BJP workers into preventive custody.
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The party had on Monday petitioned Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh seeking cancellation of the event organised in support of activist Umar Khalid.
A delegation of BJP leaders led by Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan met the commissioner and submitted a memorandum in this regard.
Khalid is currently in jail in connection with allegations of conspiracy in the 2020 Delhi riots.
In a post on ‘X’ earlier in the day, the Karnataka BJP alleged that while courts are still hearing cases related to anti-national activities, the Congress-backed ecosystem is busy glorifying individuals who aim to divide Bharat.
“Why is Bengaluru being turned into a hub for celebrating such elements? Is this the ‘cultural contribution’ the Siddaramaiah government wants to promote? Our city is a land of innovators and patriots, not a playground for the ‘Tukde Tukde’ (divisive) narrative,” it alleged.
The Supreme Court on April 20 dismissed Khalid’s plea seeking review of a verdict denying him bail, observing that there are reasonable grounds to believe the allegations against him in connection with the conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots.
The court had earlier said there was a prima facie case against Khalid and Sharjeel Imam (another accused) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), noting that prosecution material suggests their involvement in the “planning, mobilisation, and strategic direction” of the riots.
The February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi broke out during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), leaving 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.
