Though both factions of the ruling AIADMK are adopting a cautious approach towards the BJP-led government at the Centre, the party organ Dr. Namadhu MGR has hit out at the Narendra Modi-led government, accusing it of being bothered more about cattle than the country.
“Ithu Naadu Kaakum Arasaa? Maadu Kaakum Arasaa? (Is this a government that safeguards the country or the cattle?) asked a column authored by its editor M. Alaguraj, who writes under the pen name Chitrakupthan. While Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had said that he would respond to the notification banning sale of cattle for slaughter after going through it, party MP and Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha M. Thambi Durai said the AIADMK did not agree with the notification. “We have differed with the Centre on many issues. In a federal set-up, the Centre cannot appropriate the rights of the State governments,” he explained.
The AIADMK’s mouthpiece on Thursday also published a column titled “Moochu Mutta Pesu, Moondrandu Pochu (Pour your lungs out; three years have passed), alleging that the Centre has used central organisations such as the Income Tax Department to conduct raids against its political rivals.
Recalling Chinese Communist leader Mao Tse Tung’s remarks that it was “our enemies who decide our weapons”, Mr. Alaguraj said BJP’s spokespersons in Tamil Nadu decided “what we have to write in our newspaper”.
“They simply brush aside the achievements of our [AIADMK] government in one year. This is our response to the comments of the BJP leaders on social media and television debates,” he said.
‘Empty slogans’
“The BJP government makes empty slogans like ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’. Instead of wiping out the tears of people, it has sold out Mahatma Gandhi’s nation to corporate houses,” the column, written in a format of slogans, alleged.
The paper also accused the BJP government of unnecessarily waging wars which had led to the death of 500 Army personnel.
Instead of acting responsibly, the BJP government was promoting Sanskrit, Bhagavat Gita and Patanjali and taking care of the interests of North India. “Is it a Central government or a crooked government,” the column wondered.
