DMK former minister Kovi. Chezhiyan has said that writer Perumal Murugan, who wrote the article that exposed the book irregularities, was also a member of the book recommendation committee.
In a statement he released on this, he said: In an article he wrote, writer Perumal Murugan had brought to light that some of the books included in the Coimbatore Periyar intellectual circle contained false information and incorrect history, and that the names and addresses of the publishers and authors of those books were fake.
T.V.K. is trying to use this for its political disgust.
The School Education Minister from the T.V.K. government, which has grown used to blaming the D.M.K. for everything, and that party’s “Virtual Abusers” group, which operates solely to smear the D.M.K., acted as usual, thinking they could simply shift the blame and pin it on the D.M.K.
What is shockingly surprising in this is that the Chief Minister, who has so far not opened his mouth on any issue, including law and order, rising prices, and increased electricity tariffs, has also issued a statement, astonishingly; out of the vain hope that this would help divert the people’s attention!
Holding the office of Chief Minister and possessing the authority to review all government documents in an instant, Vijay should have properly examined the controversy that emerged over the purchase of Periyar Arivulagam books. He does not appear to have done so responsibly.
That library books purchased should be of good quality—and that transparency should be maintained in them—was first established by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government through the creation of a “transparent book procurement policy.” The T.V.K. members’ attempt to hide that fact and spread otherwise is nothing but slander.
In the grand library to be established in Coimbatore, we formed a book recommendation committee comprising distinguished writers and academicians during the previous DMK regime, so that quality books would be included. The writer Perumal Murugan, who wrote the article that exposed the book irregularities, was himself a member of that book recommendation committee.
Have such shortcomings ever arisen before in DMK’s projects, which created thousands of libraries across Tamil Nadu and established libraries such as the Anna Centenary Library and the Kalaignar Centenary Library in a way that has amazed the entire Indian Union?
However, after the change in government, this news has come under the T.V.K. administration, which functions with the sole aim of sabotaging the DMK’s schemes; therefore, one is compelled to suspect whether there is any ulterior motive or any conspiracy involved in this. The background of the specific books, the authors who wrote them, and the publishing houses that obtained permission must be made public.
Therefore, instead of, as usual, simply saying DMK, DMK, an investigation should be conducted by an independent body. The DMK’s position is that legal action against those involved in this irregularity is essential!” he said.
Allegations have emerged that corruption took place in the purchase of books for the Periyar Intellectual World in Coimbatore, which was built under DMK rule and inaugurated last month by Chief Minister S. Joseph Vijay.