Stalin's son at it again, says threat to join BJP led to Ganguly's heart attack

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 2

Amid the ongoing I-T raids against his kin, DMK youth wing president and Chepauk constituency candidate Udhayanidhi Stalin is continuing with his relentless attack against the BJP, which is contesting the April 6 Assembly elections with the ruling AIADMK.

After allegations that late BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj were “sidelined” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Udhayanidhi has now claimed that BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly was “threatened to join the BJP and due to stress, he had a heart attack”.

“Amit Shah’s job is to threaten others and topple elected governments, I will not be scared of him, I am Kalaignar’s grandson,” Udhayanidhi was quoted as saying. He also raised questions over the appointment of Home Minister’s son Jay Shah as the BCCI secretary.

The BJP has written to the Election Commission, seeking his disqualification and his name has been taken off the star campaigner list of the DMK in Tamil Nadu. Daughters of the late Union Ministers, Bansuri Swaraj and Sonali Jaitley Bakshi, slammed Udhayanidhi, asking him to refrain from using the names of their parents for his poll propaganda.

“Udhayanidhi Stalinji… please do not use my mother’s memory for your poll propaganda! Your statements are false! PM Modi bestowed utmost respect and honour on my mother. In our darkest hour PM and party stood by us rock solid! Your statement has hurt us,” Bansuri Swaraj tweeted.

Arun Jaitley’s daughter Sonali Jaitley Bakhshi tweeted: “Udhayanidhi Stalin ji, I know there is election pressure, but I won’t stay silent when you lie and disrespect my father’s memory. Dad Arun Jaitley and Narendra Modi ji shared a special bond that was beyond politics. I pray you are lucky enough to know such friendship.”

Addressing an election rally, Udhayanidhi reportedly said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Dharapuram on Tuesday and criticised me. He said I sidelined the party’s senior leaders and took a shortcut.”

“People thought LK Advani would be the next PM, but Modi sidelined him. Murali Manohar Joshi was next and then there was Jaswant Sinha, who was unable to bear the torture and left the party. Sushma Swaraj could not handle the pressure and she died. Arun Jaitley also could not handle the torture and he died. PM also sidelined M Venkaiah Naidu,” he alleged.

Modi has been targeting DMK chief MK Stalin for practising “dynasty politics”, calling his son a “crown prince”.