Vijay Invokes Anna, MGR; Promises Rain Of Freebies

Chennai: Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay on Sunday invoked the legacy of Dravidian icon C.N. Annadurai and AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and promised higher education for everyone, job-oriented curriculum, permanent house, permanent income for one in every family besides a motor vehicle for every family.

Holding his first meeting after the Karur tragedy indoors at a private college in Kanchipuram, Mr Vijay said his party will come to power in the next Assembly election and ensure that each one in a house is a degree-holder and permanent income for at least one person in a family. His party would ensure that everyone gets treatment without fear and implement a scheme to protect the water bodies and avert floods.

He recalled former chief minister and DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi dismissing dynastic politics saying the DMK is not a Sankara Mutt, where the incumbent pontiff selects his successor. “What is happening in the DMK now?” Mr Vijay asked.

The opinions of fishermen, weavers, workers, government staff and teachers would be elicited to form security and development schemes for them, he said, adding his government would be more concerned about industrial growth in the state. Priority would be given to law and order and protection would be given to women. He said the TVK would explain how the schemes would be implemented in its election manifesto. The party would also pave the way for economic development so that each family had a car.

Vijay opened his speech quoting lines from a song in MGR’s ‘Netru Indru Naalai’ which glorifies DMK founder C.N. Annadurai (Anna). The two lines say “Anna was born to work for the country and he was keen on people's welfare”. Kanchipuram is the district in which ‘Kanchi Thalaivan’ Anna was born, he said, adding MGR formed the AIADMK flag with Anna’s image since he was MGR’s mentor. “But all of you know the actions of those who captured the party founded by Anna,” he said.

The TVK is following Anna’s words of going to the people but the DMK had forgotten Anna’s ideals. Quoting a dialogue of MGR from the film ‘Marmayogi’ he said “If I aim, I won't miss. If I might miss, I won't aim at all.”

Referring to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin indirectly terming the TVK as ‘a crowd without policy’, Mr Vijay asked, "Don't we have a policy?”. He recalled that his party has the slogan 'Pirappokkum ella vuyirkkum’ (all are born equal) and raised its voice for caste census. The TVK declared that education should be brought back to the state list and emphasised on equality and equal opportunities. Mr Vijay said the TVK had opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act and the Wakf Amendment Act. But the only policy of the DMK is corruption, the TVK leader said.

Touching on topics specific to Kanchipuram, the actor said the river Palar was totally ruined by plundering 22.7 lakh units of sand, much more than the permitted quantity, and the Enforcement Directorate is carrying out an enquiry.

He said the Kanchi silk weavers producing world class clothes are suffering in poverty and borrowing money and the government is unable to construct a new bus terminus for the district even after 60 years. He also alleged that the DMK government is not interested in constructing a check dam across the Palar at Avalur. Mr Vijay used the words "Blastu, blastu," from the song ‘Thalapathi Kacheri’ from his movie ‘Jananayakan’ to be released in January. He asserted that the TVK would continue to support farmers who oppose a new airport at Parandur. “People might have expected me to talk about Karur even now; I will talk about that later,” he added.

Taking exception to his critics calling his fans as ‘tharkuri (idiots), he said they are not idiots and they would decide the destiny of those parties which are criticising them. “They are all the exclamation marks of Tamil Nadu politics. They are all the signs of change for Tamil Nadu politics,” Mr Vijay said.

He said words of support for the TVK had come from one of the DMK MLAs. “We entered politics only to do good for you. We have no other agenda. That is why we have clearly stated who our ideological enemy is and who our political enemy is, declared it publicly, and entered the field,” he said, adding he had no personal animosity or vengeance towards anyone.