Anbumanai Ramadoss challenges Stalin to open debate

Escalating the war of words with DMK Treasurer M K Stalin, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss today ridiculed the DMK scion's title 'Commander' as he challenged him to an open debate on development politics.
In yet another letter to Stalin today, Ramadoss reiterated his earlier criticism of DMK on issues ranging from corruption and prohibition and repeated his party's stand that PMK would henceforth never align with AIADMK or DMK as it was a 'mistake' to have done so earlier.
"Though you are addressed as Commander (by supporters) you just hide in the Assembly and make others do the talking. Similarly you have responded to my letter through someone defeated in elections," he said.

Ramadoss' response came to a statement by Joint Secretary of DMK Rules and Regulations Committee and former MP R Thamaraiselvan on Tuesday, who had posed a series of questions to the PMK leader on the promises made to the Vanniyar community, whose interest that party claims to represent, besides raking up a CBI case against him.
Ramadoss said Stalin had not directly responded to his allegations and 'hired' someone else to do the job, even as he denied any wrongdoing in granting permission to a medical college in Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
Recalling a Tamil saying, the Dharmapuri MP told Stalin that since DMK is involved in corruption, everything seemed corrupt to them.

"In the (CBI) chargesheet, there is no mention of me accepting money or meeting someone. The allegation is that officials did not follow procedures regarding granting license for the college. It is a politically motivated case against me and justice will prevail," he said.
Admitting to DMK's criticism about his party's alliance hopping, he also said it was a 'mistake' to have extended support to the M Karunanidhi-led government in 2006 when it had secured just 96 seats where Stalin went on to become Deputy Chief Minister.
DMK had in fact changed alliances 15 times, including with the Congress and BJP, he said.