In maiden public speech, TVK leader Vijay targets DMK, speaks against NEET

PTI Villupuram (Tamil Nadu): Months after announcing his political party Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), top Tamil actor Vijay spelt out his political agenda and vision for the state during his keenly watched maiden public meeting here on Sunday. Forces dividing the country on various lines and corrupt entities are his party’s enemies, TVK leader and top Tamil actor Vijay said here on Sunday, and announced his party has been based on secular social justice ideologies with leaders like EVR Periyar and K Kamaraj as its guiding lights. The latest entrant to Tamil Nadu politics, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam founder Vijay took an apparent dig at the DMK and its first family, saying its leaders were calling the “anti-people government as Dravida model government.” The Dravida model government is a reference to DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin’s oft-repeated statement that such a model of governance was an inclusive one ensuring the well-being of all sections of Tamil society.

In his maiden public speech eight months after announcing the launch of TVK, Vijay said the late veterans MG Ramachandran and NT Ramarao where ridiculed as mere cinema actors when they made their political plunge “but they continue to remain in the hearts of the people” of the respective states, i.e Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. “Some here have been painting anyone entering politics with a particular colour, fooling people but they will be doing underground dealings, make noises during election and always talk about fascism. And create majority-minority fears among people who are united,” he said, addressing the well-attended state public conference at Vikravandi in this district. “You are calling an anti-people government as Dravida model rule and fooling people. Stop painting those opposing you with certain colours,” he said. TVK’s principle is everyone is equal by birth. “Should i need to say who is opposed to this,” he asked. While the divisive forces could be identified and even reveal themselves, a corrupt entity was like a virus and elusive.“It will enact a drama about ideology. Don the cloak of culture protector. It has no face, but only a mask.

The mask is the face. The corrupt hypocrites are among us and are presently ruling us now,” Vijay said. TVK’s one enemy was the divisive forces, while such corrupt hypocrites were the other. “Those spoiling the country with divisive politics is TVK’s primary ideological enemy. The next is a selfish family looting Tamil Nadu in the name of Dravida model (governance), using the names of Periyar and Anna; its our political enemy,” Vijay added. TVK will not see Dravidam and Tamil nationalism as different. Explaining why he did not name anyone that he had criticised today, Vijay said, “I left their names out not out of fear, but we have not come here to name people and attack them using foul language.” “We want to take forward decent politics with people’s support, a decent approach and attack for ideological and political enemies.”“Secular social justice ideologies will be our identity; democracy, equality, rational thinking, women’s emancipation and a drugs-free Tamil Nadu (will be the focus). In our political journey, women will play a key role,” he said.