AIADMK will back govt stand on Keeladi report: EPS
Edappadi K Palaniswami
has said.
He told reporters after visiting the Keeladi museum in Sivaganga district on Wednesday morning that the first phase of archaeological excavations in Keeladi commenced in 2014 when AIADMK was in power. Thousands of artefacts were unearthed during various phases of excavation. It was AIADMK which allocated funds for establishing the on-site museum when late leader J Jayalalithaa was chief minister.
In 2018, six samples from Keeladi were sent to a lab in Florida, USA, which confirmed that the Keeladi civilisation dated to the 6th Century BCE.
"I cannot comment on the matter pertaining to publishing the Keeladi excavation report since we do not know about the details of the clarification sought by the Centre. However, we (AIADMK) would support the state govt's stand on this matter," he said.
Earlier, Palaniswami visited the house of B Ajith Kumar, who died of custodial torture in Thiruppuvanam, and interacted with his mother and brother. He told reporters that the law and order situation in the state is deteriorating.
He suspects that the policemen acted in a brutal manner due to external pressure. It was only after protests by the people and AIADMK functionaries that the govt transferred the case to CBI, he said.
On behalf of AIADMK, a cheque of Rs5 lakh would be handed over to the family of Ajith Kumar, he added.
Later in the evening, Palaniswami continued his 'Makkalai Kappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom' campaign in Manamadurai in Sivaganga district, and Paramakudi and Thiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram district.
At Manamadurai, Palaniswami questioned DMK MP Kanimozhi's claim in parliament that Pahalgam terrorist attack could have been averted if we had proper intelligence. "In 1998, when late M Karunanidhi was chief minister, there were serial bomb blasts in Coimbatore.
Was it an intelligence failure," he asked. EPS said the central govt gave a befitting reply through Operation Sindoor. In Paramakudi, Palaniswami said Tamil Nadu was the number one state in education under AIADMK. At present, posts of principals are vacant in 96 arts and science colleges, and those of deans and professors in govt medical college hospitals, he added.
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