CHENNAI: Chief minister C Joseph Vijay and the DMK on Friday traded charges over alleged irregularities in the purchase of books for Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore, with Vijay accusing the previous regime of turning the institution into a den of corruption and the opposition questioning the transparency of procurement under the TVK govt.In a post on X, Vijay said an expert committee constituted by the previous DMK govt to recommend books for the library-cum-knowledge centre had been exposed by one of its members, writer Perumal Murugan, who flagged alleged irregularities in the procurement.Lauding Murugan for bringing the issue to light, Vijay accused the DMK of exploiting Periyar’s name and legacy for corruption. He said the controversy was among several alleged irregularities exposed after those involving municipal administration and TASMAC.“The future generation will never forgive the DMK for indulging in corruption in procuring books,” Vijay said, adding that the controversy would remain a blot on the party.The DMK hit back, questioning the timing and transparency of book purchases under the TVK govt. It alleged that only books published by Akal Vilakku and Phoenix carried June purchase stamps, coinciding with Vijay’s birthday, while other well-known publications, including Valgaivilirundhu Gangai Varai, bore March stamps, indicating purchases during the previous DMK regime.Raising questions over the procurement, the DMK asked when the allegedly bogus books were purchased, who selected them and who benefited from the deal under the TVK govt. It also cited questionable titles and authors, including Trisha Vijay, Vijay Balu, Vijay Selvam, Vijay Adithan and Sumega Vijay, and questioned whether the govt became aware of the alleged irregularities only after a writer who served on the previous regime’s book selection committee flagged them.Maintaining that book purchases during its tenure were transparent and known to publishers, DMK accused Vijay of selectively focusing on the controversy while remaining silent on price rise, murders, a missing girl, power cuts, electricity charges and fishermen’s deaths at sea.
