Sivaganga MP Karti Chidambaram has accused the BJP-led central government of discriminating against Tamil Nadu by imposing conditions on financial aid, such as making the teaching of a third language mandatory.Speaking on Saturday, Karti expressed dismay over the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP, calling it a distressing political move. He pointed out that the BJP summons AIADMK’s General Secretary to Delhi and even calls other potential leadership candidates. He affirmed that the DMK leads the INDIA alliance in Tamil Nadu, with the Congress continuing its support. He also asserted that the alliance would secure a massive victory in the 2026 elections. Addressing the issue of constituency delimitation based on population, he warned that states like Tamil Nadu, which have controlled their population growth, would face negative consequences. He supported Chief Minister Stalin’s stance that the current system should remain unchanged for the next 25 years.
Karti further criticized the central government for allocating less financial aid to Tamil Nadu while favoring states that align politically with the BJP. He highlighted that Tamil Nadu had not received adequate educational funds, as the Centre insisted on making the study of a third language a prerequisite for funding. He called this an act of betrayal against the state. On the issue of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen, he urged Prime Minister Modi to arrange a constructive agreement with Sri Lanka to resolve their long-standing concerns. However, he questioned whether Modi had actually taken any meaningful steps in this regard.
Speaking in Karaikudi, Karti also addressed concerns regarding the central government’s amendments to the Waqf Board Act. He argued that these were not reforms but a deliberate attempt to weaken the system. He criticized the government for taking control over how religious donations should be administered and for including members from other faiths in the Waqf Trust, describing it as an insult to the affected religious community.