DMK slams TN CM over COVID-19, Palaniswami hits back

DMK president M K Stalin on Friday hit out at Chief Minister K Palaniswami for his expectation that the number of fresh coronavirus cases will slide to zero and demanded expeditious steps to procure equipment, carry out rapid testing besides measures for treatment, relief and rehabilitation.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami, meanwhile, asked Stalin to behave responsbily and asserted that the government was toeing the guidelines of public health and medical experts to tackle COVID-19 and wondered what advice the DMK could offer in the matter.

"We are fighting against COVID-19 vigorously. The entire government machinery is working against the contagion. Leader of opposition (Stalin) should behave responsibly," Palaniswami told reporters in Salem, adding this was not the time for nitpicking but one to save lives.

Earlier, the Dravidian party chief called Palaniswami's remark related to the manner in which coronavirus spread in Tamil Nadu a "joke," and wanted the Chief Minister to stop uttering such things and instead sought measures to end the spread of the contagion.

Stalin said, "...it is a rare discovery on class discrimination, he should stop uttering such jokes and instead take steps to stop spread of coronavirus."
The Chief Minister had said on Thursday: "It is a disease of the rich. People who had travelled abroad or to other states have imported it (to Tamil Nadu). It did not originate here."
Stalin, referring to Palaniswami's remark on Thursday that the government hoped that new cases will soon be zero in Tamil Nadu, said one does not know whether to "laugh or cry."
Avoiding naming the DMK explicitly, he said "they want to project themselves and try to politicise the issue, it will not happen."