After DMK’s Rs 500 crore notice, BJP leader Annamalai seeks damages from ruling party

In a statement, Annamalai claimed Bharathi had made contradictory remarks while responding to his charges and reiterated he will submit all details to CBI related to the corruption that allegedly took place in awarding a contract for metro work during the previous DMK regime.

The BJP leader said the DMK is guilty of all the charges he has levelled against it and noted that Bharathi during the press meet on Saturday had accused him of receiving Rs 84 crore from the Arudhra chit fund scam.

“For levelling a baseless allegation against me and my party on a public platform, I am seeking compensation of Rs 500 crore and 1 rupee. I am willing to deposit this amount for the PM cares fund,” he claimed, adding that if Bharathi doesn’t provide a statement explaining his comments within 48 hours, he would initiate legal action.

On April 14, Annamalai had released Part I of the DMK files, alleging corruption and massive accumulation of wealth by the government, which he estimated at Rs 1.34 lakh crore. Annamalai had also said he would expose not just the DMK but all parties that had ruled the state triggering outrage from ally the AIADMK with whom the BJP state president has been at loggerheads.

When asked about Annamalai’s comments, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami asked reporters not to ask him about the BJP leader and said that by giving interviews Annamalai is attempting to become a big leader. He said Annamalai is thriving in politics only due to media hype.

“I have been in politics for the past 50 years and I know what is going to happen. By giving interviews, he is trying to become a big leader. Please do not ask me questions about him, ask me about other political parties. Ask me about the remarks of matured political leaders, and I will answer them,” Edappadi said.

During an Iftar event in Chennai Sunday, Palaniswami claimed unlike a few parties which provide fake promises for votes, the AIADMK is the true protector of minorities. “Our ideology is different, the alliance is different,” Edappadi claimed, pointing at his party’s tie-up with the BJP.

“Ideology is like an initial. Can anyone change it? No. Our initials are devised by Puratchi Thalaivar and Puratchi Thalaivi. That way, our party will forever remain the true protector and friend of minorities. This will never change,” he added.