AIADMK Leader C Vijayabaskar Supports Census but Boycotts for Kallakurichi Tragedy Victims
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 26: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin moved a resolution in the State Assembly urging the Central Government to start the census work immediately. AIADMK leader C Vijayabaskar expressed support for the census but stated that the party is boycotting it to advocate for the people of Kallakurichi.
Notably, 61 people have lost their lives due to the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, and 91 people are undergoing treatment at the Government Kallakurichi Medical College and Hospital, where 32 people have died.
Vijayabaskar clarified, “The speaker stated that we are boycotting the community census, but it is nothing like that. Our leader of the opposition (LoP) has clearly stated in the previous AIADMK regime, that there was a lot of representation from different community parties.”
He added, “A committee under Retired Justice Kulasekaran was formed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami (Tamil Nadu LoP) for this purpose. We have boycotted this solely to be the voice of the people of Kallakurichi.”
Earlier, Palaniswami and several AIADMK MLAs were suspended for the entire assembly session after raising slogans against the DMK government over the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy and demanding the resignation of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Tamil Nadu Speaker M. Appavu ordered their eviction for disrupting the assembly proceedings.
Speaker Appavu stated, “Many important issues need to be discussed in the Assembly. The caste census resolution is to be passed. The CM also felt that the Opposition must be part of this. So, the CM intervened and requested not to suspend AIADMK MLAs for the entire session. As per rule 56, AIADMK gave a motion for adjournment. But they are not ready to listen to what I am saying.”
Meanwhile, the AIADMK targeted the state government on its official X handle, stating, “The state government has full authority to conduct a caste-wise census. But today, to cover up the problems of the people and considering the Vikravandi by-election, the central government has decided to take a caste-wise census as a matter of urgency.”
In another post, it said, “When the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam was in power, it accepted the request of various leaders and ordered a caste-wise census on December 21, 2020, and started the work for the same. But after the change of government, the DMK government did not extend the period and they are acting now.”
