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“The Former CM Must Not Give Half-Baked Answers,” Annamalai Slams EPS Over The Liquor & Drug Row In TN

The Commune

The rift between former allies BJP and AIADMK has intensified, with the leaders of both parties harshly criticizing each other during their respective press conferences. The latest point of contention was the issue of drugs, which prompted the Tamil Nadu BJP, along with its supporters, to stage a protest against drug prevalence in the state. In their criticism, they targeted both the DMK and AIADMK, citing recent drug busts and the sale of alcohol by TASMAC, respectively.

In response, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, retorted by pointing out that BJP-ruled states have a higher incidence of drug-related issues, citing the example of a drug bust on the Gujarat coast. However, this statement was met with skepticism from news reporters, who questioned its validity. Annamalai, in turn, responded by accusing the former Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami of speaking in an ambiguous or incomplete manner.

On 12 March 2024 , Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai, accompanied by party members, staged a protest against the DMK following a recent drug bust involving expelled DMK member Jaffer Sadiq and the increasing drug seizures in the state. During the protest, Annamalai criticized both the DMK and AIADMK, highlighted the issue by wearing a T-shirt that read “Save our children. Say no 2 drugs and DMK. Save our youth”. He urged people to reject both drugs and Dravidian parties, indicating the ‘D’ in DMK stood for both Drugs and Dravidian. Annamalai also criticized the AIADMK, led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, for their previous governance, accusing them of neglecting public welfare while focusing on TASMAC revenue. He questioned the sincerity of the AIADMK’s recent protest against the drug menace, given their history of profiting from TASMAC liquor sales.

On March 13, Edappadi Palaniswami , the Leader of the Opposition, attended an Iftar event representing AIADMK in Chennai and later held a press briefing. During the session, journalists inquired about BJP state president Annamalai’s remarks concerning the drug trade in Tamil Nadu and his criticism of AIADMK’s management of Tasmac shops.

In response, Edappadi Palaniswami addressed the queries by stating, “TASMAC has not received such a complaint, if it had, we would have known. That way, it is the same in all BJP-ruled states. Even today, they have seized ₹450 crore worth of drugs in the BJP-ruled state. What is he (Annamalai) going to answer to that? Law and order in Tamil Nadu was protected only under AIADMK rule, Whoever it is they are equal before law”.

On 14 March 2024, journalists questioned Edappadi Palaniswami’s criticism of Annamalai, the BJP state president, who had addressed the press at Chennai airport responded by expressing surprise and disappointment at Palaniswami’s remarks, stating that it was both unfortunate and amusing that the former Chief Minister would comment without any understanding of the situation. He likened it to a joke. Annamalai emphasized the significance of border states in intercepting drugs, suggesting that catching drugs in such states should be applauded as an achievement. He cited the recent instance in Gujarat where a boat carrying drugs from Iran destined for Tamil Nadu was intercepted in Mundra. This, he argued, underscored the crucial role of border states in curbing the flow of drugs into the country.

“If the border states control drugs, their efficiency is based on their drug seizure. Therefore today the former chief minister (EPS) should understand this. They have been in charge as Chief Minister and should not give half-baked answers like this. If the police seize drugs that comes out in states like Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Himachal and Gujarat, it shows their efficiency. If you see today, they have confirmed once again that they are “relatives” (DMK & ADMK). If you accuse them (DMK) they wont speak, the former chief minister (EPS) is answering instead.

There is a difference between seizing ganja at a port in a border state and seizing synthetic drugs worth thousands of crores of rupees in areas like Tamil Nadu where there was no ganja circulation. Who does this? Central Government itself is doing this. Did the state Police go to the Mundra port and catch them or did the Tamil Nadu Police Department get a search warrant to Mundra port and caught it? Who caught it? All central government departments, NCB is seizing it. So, the former chief minister (EPS) is giving press statement to save whom? Is he confirming that DMK & ADMK are “relatives”?”, he said.

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