Periyar Arivulagam books row: People of Tamil Nadu will never forgive DMK for corruption, says CM Vijay
“For those familiar with the DMK’s history, this is hardly shocking. However, what makes us deeply distressed is that all this involves public money,” Mr. Vijay said in a social media post after renowned writer Perumal Murugan flagged irregularities in the procurement of books for Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. File
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Friday (November 6, 2026) said the people of Tamil Nadu would never forgive the DMK, which had made a history of “looting and indulging in corruption” in the name of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and Tamil.
Coming down heavily on the DMK following serious irregularities surfacing in the purchase of books for the newly inaugurated Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore, Mr. Vijay, in a post on X, alleged “The DMK, the root cause of corruption, has now been exposed as an example of how those who loudly proclaim that they alone represent Tamil and deceive the people have always been corrupt.”
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DMK chief Stalin visits Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore
A book recommendation committee was constituted for the Periyar Arivulagam and other new libraries, and a Government Order was issued on November 5, 2025 during the previous DMK regime, Mr. Vijay said.
He hailed author Perumal Murugan, who was a member of the committee tasked with recommending modern literary works and books on literary criticism, for flagging the irregularities in the procurement of books for the Periyar Arivulagam.
“The DMK has resorted to corruption in a somewhat different way, turning the Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore itself into a world of corruption. The DMK leadership, which had repeatedly boasted that it had meticulously built the Periyar Arivulagam, has now been exposed for recommending substandard books and indulging in corruption in their procurement. The entire world is watching and laughing at this,” Mr. Vijay said.
“How many instances of corruption took place during the previous DMK regime? Corruption in the Municipal Administration Department, TASMAC, tenders. The DMK created a world of corruption for itself, with corruption in every department, and one after another is now coming to light,” he alleged.
“Among these, it is widely known that corruption also took place in the School Education department, which is concerned with the welfare of our children, and those involved were arrested. But now, is there corruption even in the library built as a knowledge centre for our children and students to use?” he asked.
“For those familiar with the DMK’s history, this is hardly shocking. However, what makes us deeply distressed is that all this involves public money,” Mr. Vijay said, accusing the DMK of being involved in corruption that directly affects people’s lives.
Tamil Nadu / Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam / Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam / Tamil literature / Coimbatore / corruption & bribery / books and literature
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