Chennai: The state government justified the decision to support NDA's presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind and said there was nothing wrong in supporting a Dalit who rose up in stature.
Cooperation minister Sellur K. Raju had to speak in support of his ruling AIADMK after the Congress members created ruckus in the Assembly on Thursday over a “white crow” remark attributed to them by AIADMK legislator J. K. N. Ramajeyalingam. Initiating a discussion in the Assembly House, Ramajeyalingam who represents the Jayankondam constituency, pointing at the Congress MLAs, said, “you can never usher in the rule of Kamaraj in Tamil Nadu, at all.”
Stepping up criticism against the Congress he said the national party always played second fiddle to the opposition DMK. “If your ally the DMK says, 'look a white crow is flying above,' you will say yes, it's white crow',” Ramajeyalingam said much to the annoyance of the Congress legislators who stood up and protested. As the amused Treasury Benches watched the debate in glee, Congress leader K. R. Ramasamy stood up and remarked, “it is you who is always dancing to the tune of the BJP government at the Centre.”
As the AIADMK members protested to his remark, Ramasamy repeated that the ruling AIADMK always said “yes” to whatever the BJP government says. “You will soon face a big punishment from the people,” he cautioned.
Intervening, Mr Raju replied that the BJP selected a Dalit as presidential candidate and sought the support of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Immediately, Palaniswami convened a meeting of party legislators and functionaries and the party took a collective decision to support Ram Nath Kovind. “There is nothing wrong in this decision. We have not compromised on our principles. We are neither slaves to anyone nor boss to anybody,”. Raju emphasised.
