CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: The Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed a major uproar on Monday over corruption allegations exchanged between Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and the opposition DMK.
Chief Minister Vijay alleged that during the previous DMK government, bribes were collected from contractors handling government works in the name of party funds, and that the money was taken not as a lump sum but in instalments like loan EMIs.
Referring to an Enforcement Directorate (ED) document after the opposition demanded evidence for his allegations in the Assembly, Vijay said the document alleged that contractors carrying out government works under the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) department were made to pay 7.5 to 10 per cent of the total contract value in the name of party funds.
The Chief Minister claimed that the alleged collections were made in regular instalments. Citing one individual, he said the document mentioned an alleged bribe of Rs 29 lakh and indicated that this amount too was collected in instalments.
In his speech, Vijay claimed that the ED document he was citing allegedly named then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin as beneficiaries. Vijay said these allegations were not prepared by him but formed part of the allegations recorded in the relevant document. However, these allegations should, for now, be seen only as claims made by Vijay in the Assembly and as his reference to an investigation document. Final confirmation of the allegations will depend on the relevant investigation and judicial process.
Chief Minister Vijay also referred to the old Sarkaria Commission report in his speech. Citing the Veeranam water supply scheme, he claimed that the report had recorded an allegation that a 2.5 per cent party fund was sought on a tender worth Rs 16 crore.
Following Vijay’s allegations, opposition DMK legislators staged a strong protest in the Assembly. According to the report, DMK MLAs moved near Speaker JCD Prabhakar’s podium, raised slogans and entered the Well of the House. This heightened political tension during the Assembly proceedings.
The controversy has surfaced at a time when the political confrontation between Chief Minister Vijay’s government and the DMK over corruption and alleged financial irregularities under the previous government is continuing to intensify. Recently, the DVAC also conducted raids at several locations in connection with a contract and alleged party fund collection case linked to former DMK minister K.N. Nehru.
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