Chennai: The Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, including the DMK, PMK, CPI and MDMK, on Thursday hailed the Madras High Court judgment ordering a CBI probe into the multi-crore Gutkha scam and have demanded the resignation of the State Health Minister and police DGP, owning moral responsibility.
While whole-heartedly welcoming the judgment, DMK working president M. K. Stalin said the entire truth into the scam would come to light only if the Health Minister Dr. C. Vijayabaskar and then Chennai City Police Commissioner and now DGP T. K. Rajendran, who were allegedly involved in the scam, resigned from their posts. He demanded the removal of those accused in the scam.
Meanwhile, Mr. Stalin wrote to the Union Home Secretary urging for the immediate constitution of the investigating team under "honest and experienced officials drawn from other States." “The nexus between politicians and officials should be exposed in the Gutka scam and justice should be rendered," he urged.
Expressing in similar vein, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said at least now the State government should act tough and take strong action to completely stop the sale of gutka.
CPI State Secretary R. Mutharasan also welcomed the court order and said the CBI probe should be held under the supervision of the High Court. He also demanded the resignation of Vijayabaskar and the DGP for their alleged involvement in the scam.
MDMK General Secretary Vaiko said the DGP has no locus standi to continue in the post and demanded his resignation and that of the Health Minister. They should own moral responsibility and resign or the government should sack him, he said.
BJP state president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan however rejected the demand for ‘removal’ and claimed that the need for resignation or removal did not arise merely because someone has leveled allegations. “There should be thorough investigation in the case and all those found guilty should be punished, though allegation is not a valid grounds for stringent action,” she said.
