MMDK general secretary Vaiko has said that Chief Minister Vijay has no ambition whatsoever to become the Prime Minister and that such a thought would not even figure in his imagination.
Speaking to reporters in Tirunelveli on Monday, Vaiko commented on the State government, the Centre and various political issues.
Asked about reports that Tourism Minister Rajesh Kumar had said Ministers would resign if Rahul Gandhi was not accepted as the Prime Ministerial candidate, Vaiko said such a view could not even be part of the Chief Minister’s imagination.
Vaiko said Ministers should refrain from making controversial statements. He said Rahul Gandhi should certainly be the Prime Ministerial candidate in the next Lok Sabha election and urged the Chief Minister to advise Ministers against making statements that could create controversy.
On the Cauvery issue, Vaiko alleged that the Cauvery Management Board had failed to discharge its responsibilities and accused the Narendra Modi-led Central Government of supporting the Karnataka Government. He alleged that the Centre was acting against the interests of Tamil Nadu.
Recalling his protest against the proposed Mekedatu dam, Vaiko said he had held a protest on the Karnataka border when the issue arose. He said he would continue to raise his voice to protect Tamil Nadu’s rights on Mekedatu and other Cauvery-related issues.
Vaiko said statements made by individual Ministers should not be construed as the stand of the entire government. Ministers, he said, should act responsibly and refrain from making controversial remarks.
He also said that if the names of Periyar, B. R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru had been omitted from any government documents or schemes, action should be taken against those responsible, irrespective of their position.
On delimitation, Vaiko said the exercise would pose a serious threat to democracy and urged the Centre to abandon any move to implement it.
