“There is a group attempting to change the name of Tamil Nadu, but as long as the DMK exists, that will never happen,” stated Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.Speaking at the DMK Engineers Wing event in Chennai, held to mark the centenary of Karunanidhi, Udhayanidhi emphasized the importance of preserving the state’s identity.
He remarked, “C.N. Annadurai introduced new words to the Tamil language and named our state Tamil Nadu. Now, there is a group trying to change that name. But as long as the DMK is in power, it will never happen. Karunanidhi was not only a political giant but also an unrivaled orator.”
Recalling an incident involving the late Ram Vilas Paswan, Udhayanidhi said, “When Paswan was the Union Railway Minister, a railway project was inaugurated in Tamil Nadu. During his speech, he mentioned that one-third of the project’s funding would come from the central government, while the state government would have to provide the remaining two-thirds. This was 28 years ago, but it resonates with the situation today.”
He further cited the Chennai Metro Rail project as an example, stating, “The second phase of this project is estimated to cost ₹60,000 crore. Ideally, both the central and state governments should contribute 50% each. However, the central government has not allocated even a single rupee, yet our Chief Minister is ensuring the project’s success with state funds.”
Udhayanidhi’s speech highlighted the DMK’s commitment to Tamil Nadu’s identity and criticized the central government’s lack of financial support for crucial state projects.