Cruel remarks about Stalin broke my heart, says Karunanidhi

Says Alagiri nurtured inexplicable hatred for Stalin

January 28, 2014 02:06 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 01:59 am IST - CHENNAI

Supporters of DMK leader M.K. Stalin burning the effigy of M.K. Alagiri in Madurai on Tuesday.

Supporters of DMK leader M.K. Stalin burning the effigy of M.K. Alagiri in Madurai on Tuesday.

DMK president M. Karunanidhi on Tuesday said his elder son M.K. Alagiri was suspended from the party as he made some cruel comments against his younger brother and party treasurer M.K. Stalin; words that “broke his heart.”

“You might have listened to his interview to a news channel. He has nurtured an inexplicable hatred for Mr. Stalin. On January 24, he entered my bedroom...and told me that Stalin would die in three or four months. The words are enough to break my heart,” he told reporters.

But he also hastened to explain that he was disheartened not because one son made such horrid comments against another. “How can one keep quiet when somebody makes such a nasty comment against another partyman?” he wondered.

Reacting to Mr. Alagiri’s argument that he went to seek justice, Mr. Karunanidhi wondered would it be proper on his part to call on a party leader at 6 in the morning.

“Mr Alagiri’s allegation was that party had taken action against his friends. Can it be wrong on my part to take action against a person who had filed complaint against Madurai district secretary Moorthy seeking action under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. I leave it to your judgment,” he said.

The DMK leader said the decision of the party’s general council and executive committee would be normally announced by the president or general secretary or party treasurer. “No one will disobey the decisions or criticise them. But Mr. Alagiri forgot the fact that he was south zone secretary of the party and criticised the party in the media. His actions have set a wrong precedent,” he said.

He said he had no idea about the irregularities Mr Alagiri had been complaining.

Asked whether Mr. Alagiri would be expelled from the party, he said a decision on the issue would be taken by the party.

To a question on the Congress party’s efforts to join hand with the DMK in the Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Karunanidhi said: “Alliance should be based on mutual understanding and without compromising self-respect,” he said.

On the possibility of an alliance with the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) led by actor Vijayakant, he said the DMK had already explained its stand it was for that party to make the next move.

Posters against Alagiri The sibling rivalry between Mr. Alagiri and Mr. Stalin spilled on to the streets of Chennai and other towns, with Stalin supporters putting up posters in some city suburbs and burning Alagiri's effigy in Chennai, Madurai, Karur and in some western districts. It appeared as if DMK men across the State were taking cue from the effigy burning in Chennai.

Mr. Alagiri supporters were comparatively muted in their response, and merely put up posters of a “renaissance conference” on the day of his birthday on January 30.

“The whole Tamil Nadu is moving towards Madurai,” screamed a poster.

The Alagiri Peravai, which declared an open war on those opposed to their leader, asserted that victory will be theirs, and soon.

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