DMK MP stokes controversy with 'Kamaraj couldn’t sleep without AC' remark, later clarifies

Chennai: DMK MP Tiruchi Siva has stoked a controversy by saying that Congress leader and former Chief Minister K Kamaraj could not sleep without air conditioners. Later, Siva clarified that he did not mean to tarnish the great leader’s reputation.

The Rajya Sabha MP had also claimed that the iconic Congress leader had during his last days held the hands of DMK’s former president and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, then, and urged him to “protect the democracy.”

While addressing the party’s meeting in Perambur here on July 16, Siva, who is DMK’s deputy general secretary, alleged that Kamaraj, though lauded for his simplicity, could not sleep without air conditioner.

He claimed that this was disclosed to him by Karunanidhi himself and that the then DMK government installed air conditioners in all the government guest houses.

His remarks evoked strong denouncement from the Congress leaders and TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai flayed the MP for the controversial remarks and accused Siva of speaking without evidence.

“No one has the right to speak in such a manner about Kamaraj or even the right to criticise him,” Selvaperunthagai said.

Congress MP Jothimani too reacted sharply, saying Kamaraj was known for his honesty, simplicity and administrative skills.

“He was defeated in elections only because of the myths spread by the DMK,” she said.

“He (Kamaraj) travelled to every nook and corner of Tamil Nadu where there were no AC rooms or five-star hotels. As a chief minister, he stayed in government hotels and even slept under a tree when the heat was unbearable,” she said dismissing Siva’s statement as "false".

TMC leader and BJP’s ally G K Vasan, who was once a Congress leader, expressed anguish over the "baseless" charge and said Kamaraj was responsible for the growth Tamil Nadu had achieved today.

“His tenure was regarded as the golden rule in Tamil Nadu. He was a role model for simplicity and integrity,” Vasan said and flayed Siva for making wrong statements about this towering personality.

Later, the DMK MP clarified that debates intensified as if he spoke in a manner that tarnished the reputation of the great leader Kamaraj.

“Many people know that I criticise with dignity even when I talk about leaders who are in the opposition. I usually speak passionately and emotionally on many platforms that Kamaraj was the eye opener for education and that he was the guiding force for India in introducing the mid-day meal scheme in schools to encourage children to attend schools,” Siva said in a statement.

He had great respect and admiration for Kamaraj, who was a freedom fighter, one who made sacrifices, served the people as Chief Minister and leader of the Congress party, and held a special place in everyone's hearts.

“I request everyone to kindly accept this explanation and not to make the message I conveyed in my speech a subject of further debate,” he said.