Edappadi K Palaniswami facing CBI probe will go down in Indian history: Stalin
Chennai: At a time when the embers still simmer in the Tamil Nadu political circle, the Madras High Court directing a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the tender process awarded by state highways department, a portfolio held by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, has given yet another jolt to the government with various political parties demanding that the CM step down.
Welcoming the order, DMK chief and Leader of Opposition urged the Chief Minister to step down, as he is facing a CBI enquiry. “The setback to Palaniswami will go down in history in India. Further, if he (CM) refuses to resign as Chief Minister, Governor Banwarilal Purohit should dismiss Palaniswami,” he stressed. It was DMK, which filed the case against Palaniswami on irregularities in floating tenders of state highways department to his relatives in last June, he recalled.
Launching a broadside against Chief Minister for awarding more number of tenders worth Rs 3,120 crore to his relatives and partners of relatives in the state highways department, Stalin said “Even Palaniswami argued that whether there is no provision for awarding tender to his relatives and he was deviating the enquiry by DVAC and put a pressure on the agency to cover up the corruption and inform the same to Court.”
The Chief Minister himself undermined his position by making the Advocate General plead with the Court, he noted. “Under direction of Madras High Court for CBI enquiry, the Chief Minister should immediately step down, paving the way for starting investigation,” the LoP said, urging Governor to dismiss him, if Palaniswami continued to remain in power.
Similarly, PMK-founder Dr S Ramadoss also demanded that Palaniswami walk out of his office. “Since DVAC’s enquiry is not satisfactory, the Madras High Court has ordered CBI probe into the allegations in the tender process,” he said, adding that even before Palaniswami became CM, he has been holding the portfolio of highways department, since 2011 and he has involved in the irregularities while floating tenders to his relatives.
Stating that PMK had submitted a report regarding this in 2015 and 2017 respectively with evidences, Ramadoss noted, “There is a prima facie in the case so the Court has ordered for CBI probe.” The PMK leader urged that Palaniswami should step down to face enquiry, he insisted.
R Mutharasan, state secretary, CPI, said “Even as DVAC stressed that there is nothing wrong with Palaniswami in floating tenders in the highways department to his relatives, however, the Court has rejected this and ordered CBI probe.” The Chief Minister should resign, as he has lost ‘moral right’ to continue as CM.
K Balakrishnan, state secretary, CPM, demanded the investigation by CBI should be in a fair and transparent manner.
VCK Chief Thol Thirumavalavan also backed the CBI probe on Chief Minister.
