Chennai, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Friday dared Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to “open” the three corruption files on his table and take action on them.
Initiating a debate in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi recalled that the chief minister mentioned three files and that he was waiting for an appropriate time to open them. “The chief minister has accused our previous DMK regime mentioning not to force him to reveal the details. I insist that he open the files and take action. Intervening, Minister N Anand maintained that the government possessed full evidence regarding the files and assured the House that legal action would be taken at the appropriate time. Simultaneously, the Speaker dismissed Udhayanidhi’s accusation that the chief minister depended on others for the decision-making and asserted that the CM operated entirely on his independent judgment, intellect, and administrative capabilities. “Initially, I didn’t want to make a statement. But the opposition is demanding evidence. It was not a random statement. The files are on my table with proof. Don’t force me to reveal.
Udhayanidhi also rejected the state government’s proposal to provide an official vehicle to all MLAs, saying the DMK, which has 59 MLAs in the House, would decline these vehicles.
Why are you afraid to reveal and why are you delaying,” Udhayanidhi said, making a remark on Vijay’s decision, which was later expunged by Speaker J C D Prabhakar. Udhayanidhi’s angry retort follows Chief Minister Vijay’s assertion in the Assembly on August 19 warning opposition DMK against persistently demanding evidence of past regime corruption, stating he already possessed “incriminating files” from three government departments on his table. The “incriminating files” have already been reviewed and are currently kept on his table, he said, warning the opposition that he would reveal the details at the right time. A week ago, Finance Minister had said that three department files are on my table following a review. I shall do it at an appropriate time,” Vijay had told the Assembly addressing criticism from the opposition.
