Captain can’t be called Karuppu MGR: AIADMK

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Does Puratchi Thalaivar MGR belong only to the AIADMK or does the iconic leader belong to all who venerate him?

This question rocked the Assembly on Thursday and the ruling AIADMK asserted that there is only one MGR (M.G. Ramachandran former chief minister and AIADMK leader) who is the revolutionary leader of the AIADMK in as much as chief minister J. Jayalalithaa is the revolutionary leader.

The Opposition DMDK, which crossed swords with the treasury benches, contended that MGR was an inspiring personality who belonged to all.

DMDK legislator Pandiarajan, while speaking on the Budget, said his leader Karuppu MGR protected his party workers. Immediately, chief minister J. Jayalalithaa intervened and said, “The incident of your leader (Vijayakanth) slapping a party worker was broadcast on television. Is this the way to protect party workers?”

As the DMDK members stood up and protested, revenue minister K.A. Sengottaiyan remarked, “We always obtain the blessings of our Amma (Jayalalithaa) because we revere her. But hitting a follower is different from getting blessings from the leader.”

Joining issue, the deputy leader of Opposition Panruti S. Ramachandran said, “Like a temple, MGR belongs to everyone.”An angered local administration minister K.P. Munusamy sought to know on what basis Vijayakanth called himself Karuppu MGR, especially when there were ideological differences and no relationship between the two.