Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Paneerselvam on Tuesday hit out at opposition parties, accusing them of conspiring to sully his government's image by alleging that law and order was deteriorating in the state and urged people not to resort to agitation over party supremo Jayalalithaa's conviction in a graft case.
"Opposition parties are working with an intention to bring a bad name to the government by making false allegations on law and order in the state," Paneerselvam, who is also the AIADMK Treasurer, said in a party release.
His reaction came against the backdrop of DMK Chief M Karunanidhi urging the government to maintain law and order in the wake of parts of the state witnessing protests over sentencing of Jayalalithaa and denial of bail by Karnataka High Court.
Seeking to assuage the wounded feelings of his partymen and people of the state who are disappointed by the jail term awarded to Jayalalithaa, he said, "The present verdict [of Karnataka High Court] is not the final ruling. Amma who won several cases for people's welfare will win in this case also. There is no doubt."
"AIADMK government led by Amma's ideals and committed to the rule of law will surely defeat the opposition conspiracy," he said. Stating that opposition parties were levelling such charges out of political vendetta, he appealed to cadres not to give room to the "manoeuvers" of rival parties who were rejected by the people.
"Amma will come to Tamil Nadu very soon aided by law. Hence I appeal to you to not resort to any agitations," he said. Citing legal victories secured when Jayalalithaa was Chief Minister in the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar River water issues, he said, "Amma will change the stumbling blocks into stepping stones and prove that she is innocent and will rule Tamil Nadu again."
Earlier in the day, Panneerselvam chaired a high-level meeting of top officials and ministers at which he reviewed the law and order situation. He decried opposition parties targeting the government for on-going protests saying "it is not acceptable to link the state government with the protests carried out by outfits and the people. Such protests are voluntary, driven by emotion and out of love for AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa."
Meanwhile, Karunanidhi told reporters here that he expected the state government to "control" law and order situation in the wake of denial of bail for AIADMK chief. "It is duty of the government," he said.
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