PT's Krishnasamy questions TN CM Vijay’s 'silence' on Southern Zonal Council meeting

Chennai, Aug 23 (AHN) Puthiya Tamilagam founder K. Krishnasamy on Sunday questioned why Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had not submitted a detailed statement in the Assembly on his address at the Southern Zonal Council meeting held in the state last week.

Krishnasamy also criticised Tamil Nadu ministers for making combative remarks that, he alleged, were intended more for social media reels and media attention than for addressing issues raised by the Opposition.

In a statement, he said ministers were expected to respond constructively to questions concerning departmental demands for grants and important matters emerging each day. Instead, he alleged, many of their replies were irrelevant and aimed at diverting attention from the questions, comparing such responses to "answering a person who asks for directions to Pattukkottai by stating the price of a coconut".

Sharp exchanges during live telecasts might provide material for social media content, but they offered no benefit to the public, he said.

Krishnasamy also claimed that the Speaker appeared caught between right and wrong while attempting to regulate the proceedings of the House. Expunging ministers’ objectionable or excessive remarks from the Assembly record after they had already reached millions of viewers through live broadcasts served little purpose, he said. He likened the practice to locking the stable after the horse had bolted and asked who ultimately benefited from it.

On the Southern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah near Chennai, Krishnasamy said the conference had taken place without adequate prior public information at a time when the Cauvery water-sharing dispute was becoming increasingly serious.

He sought clarity on the position presented by Vijay during the meeting on key interstate matters affecting Tamil Nadu. These included Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu reservoir, the sharing of Cauvery water, Kerala’s Mullaperiyar dam and Tamil Nadu’s demand to restore its water level to 152 feet, and disputes with Andhra Pradesh concerning the Palar river.

Krishnasamy said the Chief Minister should have placed a comprehensive report before the Assembly explaining Tamil Nadu’s stand, the arguments advanced at the conference and its outcome. He asked why Vijay had not made such a statement and also expressed surprise that Opposition parties in the Assembly had failed to raise questions over the matter. He demanded the government provide a transparent explanation without further delay.