Chennai, Oct 24:
Tamil Nadu Ministers Aadhav Arjuna and Rajmohan on Friday asserted that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) would never ally with the BJP and reaffirmed the governmentâs commitment to secularism and social justice.
They were speaking at the Quaid-e-Millath Rising Public Meeting organised by the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) at Egmore. Ministers Shahjahan and Aadhav Arjuna, School Education Minister Rajmohan and MP Nawaz Kani attended the event.
Public Works and Sports Development Minister Aadhav Arjuna said Chief Minister Joseph Vijay was firm in opposing any alliance with the BJP. He claimed that the DMK could not have won the Chepauk constituency without the support of its alliance partners, including the Congress, IUML, VCK and Left parties. He also alleged that the DMK would have struggled to emerge as the principal Opposition without its allies.
Aadhav Arjuna accused the DMK of failing to acknowledge its alliance partners and said the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance would strengthen secular politics nationally. He alleged that the SIR exercise had systematically removed young voters from electoral rolls and claimed that the DMK had facilitated the process to the disadvantage of the Congress. He also expressed confidence that the alliance would perform well in the forthcoming local body elections.
Minorities Welfare Minister Shahjahan said the IUML had supported Vijay during government formation to prevent a BJP-led government, without seeking political positions. He said the party subsequently joined the Cabinet following the Chief Ministerâs view that its participation would strengthen the governmentâs commitment to secularism. He claimed that the government had announced 20 measures for minorities during the Budget session.
IUML general secretary Abubacker described Quaid-e-Millath as a leader who guided the entire country and expressed confidence that the party would win more seats in the local body elections.
School Education and Tamil Development Minister Rajmohan reiterated that the TVK would have neither ties nor a relationship with the BJP. He alleged that the SIR exercise had disproportionately affected the TVK and accused the Union government and the previous DMK government of being responsible for the deletions.
Rajmohan said Vijay would have given the IUML Cabinet representation even if the TVK had secured a larger majority. He stressed that power-sharing would be essential to future politics and vowed that his government would not tolerate corruption. He also urged party workers to respond to criticism with love and brotherhood rather than hostility.