The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Chennai): In Chennai, defamation complaints have been initiated against AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and BJP State President K Annamalai following their comments aimed at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, which allegedly linked him to illicit drug distribution activities in the state. The City Public Prosecutor, G Devarajan, spearheaded these legal actions, accusing both leaders of attempting to tarnish the Chief Minister’s reputation through their remarks.
Palaniswami’s accusations against Stalin were particularly highlighted in a recent press conference, where he implied the Chief Minister’s association with drug peddlers, counteracting Stalin’s public efforts to realize a ‘Drug-free Tamil Nadu’. This initiative has been a significant aspect of the state government’s policy, with numerous measures implemented as documented in the Policy Note for 2023-2024 by the Department of Home, Prohibition, and Excise, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Devarajan emphasized the severe implications of such defamatory statements, asserting they not only jeopardize political integrity but also pose a threat to the social harmony of the state. The legal proceedings against Annamalai follow a similar vein, with his alleged defamatory statements on social media forming the basis of the complaint.
Reacting to these developments, AIADMK leader D Jayakumar remarked on the DMK government’s pattern of targeting opposition members with legal cases since their ascension to power in 2021. Jayakumar affirmed his party’s readiness to confront these allegations, expressing confidence in the public’s discernment of the truth.
These defamation cases underscore the heightened political tensions in Tamil Nadu, where allegations and legal battles between ruling and opposition parties have become increasingly prominent.