PMK founder S Ramadoss has said PM Narendra Modi is 'not above criticism'.
Magnifying the diminishing unity between BJP and its alliance parties in the state, PMK founder S Ramadoss today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not above criticism, joining voices in support of fellow alliance leader Vaiko of MDMK.
"BJP and (party's Tamil Nadu president) Tamilisai (Soundararajan) may be proud of Narendra Modi being the Prime Minister. But a Prime Minister is common for 122 crore Indians. He is not above criticisms. Saying one should not criticise the Prime Minister is like not nursing a wound but covering it," he said in a statement.
Referring to promises by Modi and Rajnath Singh in a public meeting at Tiruchirapalli and thereafter to find a permanent solution to Sri Lankan Tamils issue and to stress to implement 13th amendment in the island, he said, "No action has been taken by the Central government even after six months. Is it wrong to point this out?"
Replying to Tamilisai, who had yesterday said alliance leaders Ramadoss and Vaiko should not criticise Modi, he said, "We are not in a position to listen to lessons by anyone on how to be like alliance parties. At the same time, BJP leaders should understand that principles are not to be pledged for alliance."
All is not well in the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu after BJP leader H Raja's statement, that reportedly threatened Vaiko for criticising Modi, was opposed by leaders of various political parties.
Raja had reportedly said Vaiko may not be able to return safely from public meetings if he continued to criticise Modi.
Tamilisai too had said Vaiko should stop criticising the PM. In the strongly-worded statement, Ramadoss said, "Only because we know that pointing at mistakes is good in friendship, we are insisting on rectifying mistakes. This is well within the alliance dharma. If someone thinks this is beyond boundaries, we have to think that they do not have tolerance."
On Tamilisai's statement that BJP should be informed of demands from alliance parties, he asked whether they had any platform where opinions of alliance parties could be shared.
Listing out various issues raised by PMK, he said, "Above all, how can anyone accept Prime Minister Modi wishing Sri Lankan president Rajapaksa a success for the elections? It cannot be accepted even or a courtesy."
Recalling his alliance with regional parties AIADMK and DMK when they formed governments in Tamil Nadu, he said, "Not at any point of time did I stop criticising them and they never stopped me from criticising. BJP should come forward to listen to healthy criticism and rectify them."
Referring to the statements by H Raja against Vaiko, the PMK leader expressed support to the MDMK founder.