TN: 'ED Raid On Ponmudy To Divert Attention Before Opposition Meet'; 'After Governor, Now ED Helping Us In Election Campaign', Says CM Stalin

Reacting to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) raids on senior minister K Ponmudy and his son P Gowthamasigamani, Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the centre is worried due to the emerging opposition unity.

He said that the raids come at a time when the opposition parties are set to meet in Bangalore after the first meeting in Patna.

Calling it a misuse of the ED, he said that the BJP was now misusing the agency in Tamil Nadu like it had been doing in the northern states.

Regarding the case against Ponmudy, he said that it is a false case filed against him when Jayalalitha was the chief minister and after that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government was in power for 10 years but action was not taken against him.

"He has been recently acquitted in two cases, I am sure he will cooperate with the legal system regarding this case too.

"These raids are being conducted to divert the attention of the opposition parties who are meeting in Bangalore. The opposition parties are ready to face this.

"Already, the Tamil Nadu Governor is helping us with our election campaign, now the ED has also joined in."

On being asked whether he would discuss the issue of Cauvery water and the Mekedatu project, Chief Minister Stalin said that his government will not deviate from the stand taken by DMK supremo and former chief minister M Karunanidhi.

"This meeting is to strategise for the bigger issue of saving the country from the BJP", he said.