NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, FEB 4
Barely a day after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) submitted a petition to the Governor demanding the dismissal of Dairy Development Minister K. T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President K.S. Alagiri on Tuesday endorsed the demand. He accused the Minister Bhalaji of making controversial and hate-filled speeches aimed at destroying the peace and harmony of the State.
In a statement issued here, Alagiri said, “he should be immediately removed from the Cabinet since his statements are an attempt to destroy communal harmony and are instigating violence. His statements go against the oath of office under the Indian Constitution.”
The TNCC chief said, if the Chief Minister does not remove Bhalaji from the cabinet, the Governor should intervene and take necessary action to get him removed from the Cabinet.
The Congress leader warned that if the Minister’s idea was to create a bloodbath in the State, secular parties would come together and prevent this.
Mr. Alagiri said the Minister’s utterances over the killing of a BJP functionary in Trichi were an attempt to influence the investigation.
“The police have made it clear that there is no communal or religious angle to the murder and that it was only due to personal motives. How can Bhalaji say that Islamic terrorism is the reason for the murder? What proof does he have? If he makes such statements being a Minister, will it not affect the police investigation? Why is Rajenthra Bhalaji becoming a mouthpiece for the BJP in the State in recent times,” Mr. Alagiri asked.
