The AIADMK’s deposed coordinator and former Chief Minister, O. Panneerselvam, on Saturday defended the party’s veteran and former Minister Panruti S. Ramachandran.
Responding to observations of the AIADMK’s interim general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami against Mr. Ramachandran, the former coordinator, who spoke to journalists after paying homage to the Dravidar Kazhagam founder E.V. Ramasamy on the occasion of his birth anniversary, recalled how the party’s founder M.G. Ramachandran, as Chief Minister in the 1980s, had deputed the former Minister to the U.N. to represent issues not only concerning Tamil Nadu but also the entire country.
Besides, Mr. Ramachandran had worked along with stalwarts of the Dravidian movement such as E.V.R., C.N. Annadurai, M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa. “For political reasons, certain persons would be talking about many issues. We have to ignore them and focus on accomplishments and sacrifices [made by leaders of yesteryears],” Mr. Panneerselvam observed.
