DMK MP A Raja on Monday, 29 March, apologised for his recent statement against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami while campaigning in the Thousands Lights constituency in Chennai last week.
The apology comes after Edappadi Palaniswami got emotional during a rally, and said, “If a chief minister is disrespected in such a way then imagine the things that will happen to a common man if such people come to power.” He also said that the statement is not only against his mother but every mother, and that the people who speak in a derogatory manner about women must learn a lesson.
Following this, A Raja addressing the press said, “I feel deeply distressed after learning that TN CM felt hurt by my statement. I share my penitence from the bottom of my heart for my statement that was wrongly conceived. I even apologise to the Tamil Nadu chief mInister if he’s truly hurt, by putting aside the politics, and I don't hesitate to say this. My speech was not about the personal comparison of two leaders but a comparison of the two leaders in public life.”
During the campaign last week, A Raja had said, “Let’s compare DMK President Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami. In 23 years Stalin went to jail under MISA rule. Then he served as a district secretary in the party, general committee member, youth wing secretary, treasurer, then working president and then president of DMK.”
“He became a leader and has served as an MLA, then Chennai’s Mayor, state Minister, Deputy CM and now he is going to become a CM,” he said.
“That’s why in the villages I say, if Stalin is someone who was born out a ‘rightful’ marriage, Edappadi Palaniswami — who no one knew until Jayalalithaa’s death and has not reached any heights in public life — is a premature baby born out of an illicit affair in politics,” he added.
(This story was first published on The News Minute and has been republished here with permission.)
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