CHENNAI: Former DMK legislator and the party’s legal wing joint secretary I Paranthaman on Monday launched an attack on chief minister C Joseph Vijay, accusing his administration of turning the Tamil Nadu assembly into a “film set” and evading accountability during crucial budget debates.Accusing Vijay of evading accountability during crucial legislative proceedings, Paranthaman said the CM had failed to address pressing issues. “The chief minister acted like a fled suspect, completely dodging 15 questions raised by the opposition leader regarding law and order, drug trafficking, and internal party scandals. Instead of addressing governance, he simply delivered rehearsed, cinematic climax dialogues to generate content reels,” Paranthaman charged.Hitting back at the chief minister’s criticisms regarding MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) and the Sarkaria Commission report, Paranthaman asserted Vijay lacked the standing to comment on MISA. “Our leader is the only one in the nation who proudly bears the physical scars of MISA torture. MISA was invoked to detain political leaders during the Emergency to maintain internal security, not for petty crimes like robbery or dacoity, as misinformed by law minister Nirmalkumar. Vijay, who sang songs atop a bus while people were collapsing in Karur, has no grasp of Tamil Nadu‘s sacrifices,” he said.Paranthaman mounted a scathing attack on law minister Nirmalkumar, accusing him of misinterpreting basic legal statutes. “MISA was enacted for internal security and public order, whereas provisions like the Goondas Act target repeat offenders, bootleggers, and sexual offenders. It is disgraceful for a state law minister not to know the difference between MISA and the Goondas Act. The law minister needs proper medical evaluation and treatment before continuing in office,” he added.
