Describing as a “death blow” the order of the Madras High Court staying acquisition of land for the Chennai-Salem expressway to the AIADMK government, DMK president M.K. Stalin on Monday said Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami should announce that the government would not file an appeal against the order.
In a statement here, he alleged that the Chief Minister turned a blind eye to the suffering of the farmers since his aim was to make money out of the ₹10,000 crore project. “Mr. Palaniswami rejected my request in the Assembly to hold talks with the farmers. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, who filed a case against the project, has joined hands with the AIADMK and was remaining silent,” he charged.
Calling upon the Chief Minister to tender an apology to the people, Mr. Stalin said the PMK should elicit a promise from the Chief Minister that he would not file an appeal against the order.
CPI (M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan described as “crass opportunism” the PMK’s alliance with the AIADMK after opposing the project. “If the PMK is really sincere in its objection to the project, it should sever its ties with the AIADMK. Otherwise, Mr. Anbumani Ramadoss has no locus standi to talk about the project,” he said. AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran said the court order was a victory for the struggle of the people.