India, May 10 -- DMK chief and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday strongly responded to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's remarks alleging that the State government was burdened with nearly Rs 10 lakh crore debt.

The sharp political exchange came shortly after Vijay's emotional address following his swearing-in ceremony in Chennai, where the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader claimed that the previous DMK government had "emptied the State coffers" and left behind massive debt.

Reacting to the statement, Stalin defended the financial management of the DMK government and asserted that Tamil Nadu's debt remained within permissible limits.

"Do not immediately start saying that the government has no money. The money is...