DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Sunday took exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, wondering what was the need for meeting a person who held no position in the government.
“As the Leader of the Opposition, I convened an all-party meeting to discuss the problems of farmers and sought an appointment with the Prime Minister. If he is not ready to meet members of an all-party delegation, I am prepared to meet him alone. But we are yet to get an appointment. But he has met a person who holds no position,” said Mr. Stalin while inaugurating desilting of the Vadivudaiammal temple tank in Thandalam near Chennai.
He said even though there was nothing wrong in the Prime Minister meeting Mr. Panneerselvam, he wondered what could have prevented the former from meeting the farmers’ representatives who held protests for 50 days in Delhi.
“Everyone is aware of the problems of farmers; 200 of them had committed suicide. But the Prime Minister gave appointment to Mr. Panneerselvam, who today is just an MLA. But he is not ready to meet the Leader of the Opposition and farmers, and the critics of the DMK should keep the fact in mind,” he said.
Takes potshot at PMK
Alleging that the AIADMK government had failed to take any measures to overcome the drought in the State, he said the DMK had launched the desilting programme to prove that it always cared for the people even if it was not in power.
“Some say that the DMK is enacting a drama and its work is over after the leaders posed for camera. The irony is that the comment has come from those whose only qualification in politics is felling trees,” he said.
Mr. Stalin said the DMK would soon come to power. “But even in opposition, we work for the welfare of people,” he said.
In another statement, he urged the State government to strictly implement the recommendations of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Fee Determination Committee.
