Chennai: They were at their rhetoric best while firing barbs at each other. Both DMK chief M. K. Stalin and BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan indulged in a jousting invoking their respective party symbols to drive home the message that the other party is trivial.
The sudden provocation for the standoff between the two leaders which was never seen before was the nod given by the Central Water Commission to Karnataka’s Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for a balancing reservoir cum drinking water project across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu.
While utilising the agitation against the Centre in Tiruchy Mr. Stalin referring to the precarious position of Tamil Nadu remarked that the BJP needed the sun (also the DMK party symbol) for the lotus (BJP symbol) to bloom in Tamil Nadu. “There is no water in Tamil Nadu. And when it is difficult for even grass to grow, will lotus bloom?” Mr. Stalin asked while addressing a crowded meeting on Tuesday.
BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan who is known for her quick wit, retorted, “Rainy season has started, so sun will disappear. Soon ponds and lakes will brim with water and lotus will bloom without the sun.” Reacting strongly, she said even before Stalin could complete his speech, it started raining in Tamil Nadu. “In this era of artificial rains, we will facilitate it and ensure ponds are filled and lotus blooms… We will shed blood and make lotus bloom in TN,” she said.
She also slammed MDMK chief Vaiko for threatening to wave black flags at Prime Minister Narendra Modi whenever he visited Tamil Nadu, and accused him of having lost his “balance.” “Vaiko refuses to answer a question, flings the mike, and gets tensed up. A leader should be calm and face the challenges. As an individual he can never say he will not allow PM into TN,” she said and warned to stop his outbursts against the PM. “If he continues, then it will not be good for him,” she said.
