Not all who criticise can become MGR, says CM, hitting out at Kamal Haasan

Perambalur: Choosing the occasion of the birth centenary of iconic matinee idol and former Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran who founded the AIADMK, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said all those who habitually indulged in criticism "cannot become MGR."

Without naming him, CM hit out at Kamal Haasan for his corruption campaign, saying those aspiring to be like MGR should have led a life like MGR. They should have rushed to help the people at times of calamity, which MGR had done, he said at his MGR centenary speech at Perambalur this evening.

"There can be only one MGR in the world who is unparalleled and his protégé late CM J. Jayalalithaa lived up to his virtues and ideology," Mr. Palaniswami said. "Those who (habitually) criticise others can never become (like) MGR… even before he took to politics, MGR had won the hearts of the poor by serving them. Those who don't capture the people's hearts can never capture Fort St George," Mr. Palaniswami said and warned that those who dreamt of becoming MGR would met the fate of the (proverbial) cat which saw a tiger and branded itself (so as to be striped like the tiger - Puliyai parthu poonai soodu pottukkanda kathayagathan mudiyum).

The CM asserted that none could topple the AIADMK government and warned that those who attempted to dethrone the government would crumble. Mr Palaniswami listed out various welfare measures being implementing in the state.