MK Stalin joins issue with PMK chief on quota issue

KALLAKURUCHI: It was the resolute action by late Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi which led to the carving out of 20 per cent reservation for 'Vanniyars' and other MBC groups in government jobs and admissions to educational institutions in the wake of the 'Vanniyar Sangam agitation' in the late 1980s', declared the DMK leader M K Stalin.

"The PMK leader Dr S Ramadoss had himself at a at a function in March 2006 to mark the silver jubilee of the Vanniyar Sangam in Konangi village acknowledged that if not for Kalaignar taking steps (after DMK coming back to power in 1989) to ensure separate 20 per cent reservation for Vanniyars, even today we would have been just daily wage labourers," Stalin recalled at a huge rally here late on Friday while campaigning for the DMK Kallakuruchi LS candidate, Dr Gautham Sigamani.

Having openly acknowledged what the DMK had done for the social and economic uplifit of the Vanniyar community, now Dr Ramadoss in his election campaign goes around asking, "what has the DMK, Kalaignar done for the Vanniyars," pointed out Mr. Stalin, adding, it was painful that the PMK patriarch was now accusing him (Stalin) of uncivil speech at election meetings.

"People know what Kalaignar has done for the uplift of the SCs', BCs' and MBCs'," he asserted.

Urging the people to vote out both the Narendra Modi government at the Centre and the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK government in the State, Mr. Stalin said the opportunity for that has come through this April 18 election to the Lok Sabha and by-elections to 18 Assembly constituencies.

Stalin termed as a "big joke" EPS' claim during his poll campaign that he was a farmer and that "Stalin does not like a farmer ruling the State." Nothing could be farther from the truth, said Stalin, adding, he would be extremely happy if a genuine farmer were to rule Tamil Nadu.

"But Mr. Edappadi K Palaniswami is not a farmer, he has no right to call himself a farmer, and is out-and-out anti-farmer," Stalin alleged and asked where did EPS go when 'Gaja' cyclone had struck havoc in Cauvery delta districts. Did he (EPS) go and meet the farmers, posed the DMK leader, adding, his subsequent visit to Gaja-hit areas was eyewash.

It was the DMK that had implemented several welfare schemes for farmers since early 1970s', he added.

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