Rama Mohana Rao statements bring discredit to Jaya, says Pon Radhakrishnan
Chennai: Castigating former Tamil Nadu chief secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao for his criticism of the Centre, the BJP on Tuesday hit the nail on his head saying the bureaucrat was “sounding political” and was “only leveling allegations” instead of speaking the truth.
A battery of BJP leaders, both from the state and from the national level, jumped into the Union Government's defence saying the raids were conducted well within the rules and told Mr Rao that he was not above the law.
The most stinging criticism came from BJP General Secretary P. Muralidhar Rao, in-charge of Tamil Nadu affairs, who asked Mr Rao not to try and make his problem the issue of the entire people of TN.
“Statements by P. Rama Mohana Rao sound more political than that of a bureaucrat. He is only leveling charges instead of stating the truth,” the BJP leader said, mincing no words.
“By questioning the Constitution, which empowered him with the position of Chief Secretary, P. Rama Mohana Rao is only questioning what he is. He should explain what he has done and what he has not. Instead of rhetoric, he should fight the case in the court of law,” he wrote on Twitter.
Mr Rao also said the former chief secretary should first explain about his relations with Sekhar Reddy who was arrested by CBI after IT raids.
Speaking in the same vein, TN BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan asked him not to “politicize” an issue which has got nothing to do with politics. “He is thanking Mamata Banerjee and S.R. Balasubramanian, who jumped into his defence after being in deep slumber for four days. Is he trying to politicize the issue? This should be condemned,” she said.
In New Delhi, Minister of State for Finance Arjun Ram Meghwal said the bureaucrat must understand that everyone is equal before the law. “No one is above the law. Whoever is on the wrong side of the law will be punished,” he said.
His colleague and Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan went a step further and accused Mr Rao of bringing “discredit” to late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa by saying that I-T raids at his home and office would not have occurred had she been alive.
“Rao has brought discredit to the former Chief Minister by his alleged actions. Had she been alive and known about it, she would have permitted the raids and taken very severe action against him,” Mr Radhakrishnan said.
