OPS’s coordinator term has elapsed: EPS camp
Asserting that the party’s general council meeting was held as per the law, former AIADMK Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam on Friday dropped a bombshell of sorts claiming that the current coordinator and deputy coordinator posts of O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami have expired.
Speaking to reporters, Shanmugam said that amendments related to the top two party posts that were made to its bye-laws on December 1, 2021 were not ratified by the General Council, which met on June 23, 2022. However, since these amendments related to the top two party posts were not recognised and endorsed by the General Council on Thursday, the top two positions have now become defunct, he said.
Claiming that Panneerselvam is only a treasurer in the party, Shanmugam said the general secretary post will be created in the next general council meeting on July 11.
Commenting on OPS’s remarks on the GC meeting not having been conducted in the correct manner, the AIADMK leader said both the coordinator and deputy coordinator officially signed and announced it. “It was held accordingly.”
The election of Tamil Magan Hussain as Presidium Chairman (PC), was valid as the norms say that the PC should be elected by the GC, Shanmugam said, adding that the “PC was elected unanimously”. The rejection of 23 draft resolutions by the GC did not violate the June 23 directives of the Madras High Court, the former law minister further said. He also said that minutes of the meeting will be sent to the ECI, which is mandatory.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president KS Alagiri on Friday said his party does not have any objection to the release of Nalini Sriharan, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Speaking to reporters in Salem, Alagiri said the Congress does not have any problem over the release of Nalini, who is now in prison. “We are not against her release. AG Perarivalan, who had committed a bigger crime than her, was released; there is nothing wrong in setting her free,” he said.
Further, Alagiri said prisoners, who were languishing in jail without their charges being proved in the Coimbatore bomb blast case should be released immediately by passing a resolution in the Assembly.
Terming the implementation of ‘Agnipath’ scheme as a threat to democracy, the Congress leader said that the Central government has been forcing the scheme on youth.
“After training them in weapons for four years, the government has decided to deploy them as the armed squad for BJP and RSS. It is a threat to the safety and sovereignty of the nation. Congress will organise protests against the scheme on June 27 across Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Claiming that due to wrong policies of the Centre, the economy and farming sector has been hit, triggering unemployment, Alagiri said India will also face an economic crisis like Sri Lanka.
Further, he also said that the BJP has been targeting the Congress leaders with Enforcement Directorate to divert the attention of people against its offensive remarks on Islam. On the ongoing rift in the AIADMK, Alagiri said that O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami should settle their differences through talks.