In what seems to be a desperate bid to save his job, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan denied the authenticity of the second audio clip released by state BJP president K Annamalai on Tuesday, calling it an attempt to sever ties between him and Stalin’s family.
After showing a few “deepfake” videos of Barack Obama, Donald Trump and BJP leader Manoj Tiwari, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR stated, “If such authentic-looking videos can be machine-generated, imagine what all can be done with audio files. I strongly and specifically deny it. I have not said to any individual, personally or on the phone, at any point in time, what is contained in the audio clip circulated on social media since yesterday, the source of which nobody accepts ownership for. The state president of BJP has descended to posting audio of somebody telling nobody about some others. This is the base level of his politics.”
However, PTR for the most part of the video sang praises about MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin and MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabarisan.
Praising MK Stalin, the DMK Minister stated, “Under the leadership of our honorable Chief Minister MK Stalin, we have delivered record-breaking, innovative, and compassionate administration for 2 years since we came to office. What we call the Dravidian Model of governance. To achieve this lofty goal, we have brought in major financial reforms and we achieved it in 2 years which was not attempted in the past decade. The results are also superior to what the union government has achieved in the last decade. A direct comparison will show the true worth of the Dravidian Model. Certain forces are unable to digest these achievements. So they are indulging in using advanced technologies and cheap tactics such as releasing fabricated audio to disrupt our good work.”
Praising MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi, PTR said, “Our Hon’ble Chief Minister is not only the guiding light of Tamil Nadu but the hope of our country. Hon’ble Sports Minister Udhayanidhi is our hope for the next generation, who has received a great reception from the Tamil people. Of the many who urged his elevation to the state cabinet, based on his appeal as a youth icon, I was the foremost. His outstanding performance as the minister has surpassed all our expectations. He is also a hands-on and grassroots-level administrator, very much keeping up with the style of the Hon Chief Minister. He is making Tamil Nadu the center of attention of the international sports world. how is it possible that I could say anything negative about this outstanding performer.”
PTR further added, “Similarly, all the ministers in the `Dravidian model’ government are working as a cohesive team to achieve spectacular results. Why would I say anything negative about any of them?”
Praising Sabarisan, son-in-law of CM MK Stalin, PTR said, “From my first day in public life, Mr Sabarisan has always been my most trusted advisor and my pillar of support. Even opposition parties have not laid accusations on Thiru Sabarisan and Thiru Udhayanidhi. Therefore such fabricated audios are being created to cast aspirations on them.”
PTR ended by saying, “There is a desperate attempt by a blackmail gang to achieve their political ambitions by creating a rift within us. Such cowardly attempts will never succeed. From the inception of the DMK, we have always lived as one movement, one party, and one extended family and we will always continue to do so.”
Earlier, in the alleged audio clip of PTR, he says “I have been a long-time proponent of one man one post from the day I entered politics. It is what I like about the BJP. Who looks after the party, who looks after the people, separate those.. right?”
He further goes on to abuse his own partymen saying “Here every (beep) district secretary wants to be an MLA and Minister. Who looks after the party? Inaudible.. Ohh. it’s easier to do money management… it is not a system.. They are taking the bulk of the spoils..”
“The party which is the CM’s son and son-in-law, ask them to make the financing.. right? So I decided after watching this for 8 months.. This is not a sustainable model. The great luxury for me if I put my papers in.. In the short term, I get out before the shit starts blowing up in their face. I have the like.. kind of.. what do you say.. cleanliness of my conscience that I did not have to like it wasn’t I gave up the fight too early.. I don’t have to say it.. I’m no longer in the post.. it’s not my job.. somebody did it.”, he says.
On 19 April 2023, the first audio clip allegedly belonging to DMK Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan surfaced on social media, in which he is said to have accused members of MK Stalin’s family of making more money in one year than they have in their entire lives.
Continuation of my statement of 22nd April, 2023 pic.twitter.com/Z3H6is3XzF
— Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) April 26, 2023
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