AIADMK petitions Supreme Court to be impleaded in DMK’s plea challenging SIR

The AIADMK has petitioned the Supreme Court seeking to be impleaded in a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI), said party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

A month’s time is sufficient for the roll revision, he said and went on to charge that the DMK cannot poll the votes of those who are dead and is, therefore, protesting against the SIR. For instance, in Erode, the Slum Clearance Board tenements were demolished years ago, but the names of those who resided there still exist, he alleged.

Mr. Palaniswami added that the gang rape of a college student near the Coimbatore airport is shocking, and said that the presence of a police force in Tamil Nadu is “a big question mark”.

“The statement by the Social Welfare Minister that ₹104 crore was given to 6,995 girl children as relief for sexual assault appears like a confession. In the past 50 months of DMK rule in the State, the number of murders was 6,400, and they are a testament to the deteriorating law and order situation in the State,” he said.

Without even allocating funds, the DMK government has been laying the foundation stone for many schemes.

“Just to appoint a person of their choice, the State has not yet filled the post of DGP, despite the Union Public Service Commission recommending three officers. The State continues to be administered by a DGP in-charge,” Mr. Palaniswami further said.

Responding to a question on expelled AIADMK leader K. Sengottaiyan’s statement that there was a “family rule” in the party, Mr. Palaniswami said that this charge was “malicious”.