MK Stalin goes to Chief Secretary Girija Vaidhyanathan against Jayalalithaa's pic

CHENNAI: Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Saturday said Chief Secretary Girija Vaidhyanathan had assured to take appropriate legal action on his demand to remove the portraits of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa from government offices and her name from government schemes since, she was found guilty by the Supreme Court in the disproportionate assets case. Stalin, who met the Chief Secretary and submitted a petition, told reporters he had also pointed out to her about the spending of government money to celebrate the birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa.

The Chief Secretary listened to him and promised to take action ‘as per law,’ Stalin said. He hoped she would fulfil her assurance as she is known to be an honest official. He also clarified that he did not want to criticise Jayalalithaa personally since it would not be political civility. The charges against her had abated only because of her death, he said and added that the apex court had confirmed her culpability in the case. But, saplings planting programme in her name was held using government funds and all ministers, besides officials, took part in it.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami had taken an oath not to act against the Constitution, but his involvement in Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary is against law, Stalin said. He listed the schemes being implemented in the name of Jayalalithaa and demanded its removal.

Stalin also said Jayalalithaa’s portraits were found in the secretariat, state government and local body offices and demanded that they be removed. If action is not taken on his petition, DMK will have to approach the court, he warned. Answering a question, he charged that the files connected to the bill passed in the Assembly exempting the state from NEET had not been sent to Delhi for President’s approval. He also insisted on live telecast of Assembly proceedings since people would know what is happening in the House.