Chennai: Terming DMK working president M. K. Stalin’s week-long padyatra (Cauvery Rights Retrieval March from Mukkombu in Trichy) as the “biggest deceit” upon the people of Tamil Nadu, Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrihnan accused the DMK and other opposition parties of “destroying the Tamil culture” under the guise of protests.
“A true blood Tamil should never commit suicide or incite violence against his own people,” he said accusing the DMK of taking up a “false and malicious campaign against the BJP-led government on several issues including the Cauvery dispute verdict.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: So much opposition is building up against the Centre for its inaction on Cauvery Management Board formation. Do you think the Centre should resolve it without further delay?
A: Several Prime Ministers including our leader A. B. Vajpayee had attempted to solve this 150-year-old issue but the present PM Mr. Narendra Modi is making sincere attempts. He will ensure a permanent solution that would last for another 150 years, without Tamil Nadu facing any problems. But though there is nothing wrong in expecting results within 100 days, it is prudent to wait and see how well the government will overcome the challenge. The Congress and DMK are making politics out of the river water-sharing problem. While the Congress in TN supports the DMK, the Congress is Karnataka is against Tamil Nadu. The Congress has only exposed its double game of guarding the milk and being a friend to the cat as well, (palukkum kaval, punaikkum thozhan). Today merely because it (DMK) is not in power, it claims that it is justified in staging protests while all along it has not done a wee bit to solve this issue.
Q: But the charge against the Centre is it has gone to the court seeking clarification on scheme...
A: We have a CM in Karnataka who neither abides by the Supreme Court order nor listens to the PM or President. On top of it there is the Congress leadership which is unwilling to rein in its rebellious CM. It is the duty of the Centre to decide on the ‘scheme’ mentioned by the Supreme Court. Has the DMK which heads the alliance in TN ever condemned the Karnataka Congress government for opposing TN? The TNCC is not bothered while the Karnataka Congress wants to politicise the issue and return to power.
Q: Do you think there is any justification in opposing the IPL?
A: Who are they to tell the people to boycott IPL and speak ill of those desirous of watching the match? There is no justification. The DMK, Congress and other parties are destroying the Tamil culture under the guise of protesting against the Centre. A true blood Tamil should never commit suicide or incite violence against his own people. The DMK has taken up a false and malicious campaign against the BJP-led government on several issues including the Cauvery dispute verdict.
