Chennai, Apr 13:
M. K. Stalin, Chief Minister and president of the DMK sharpened his attack on Edappadi K. Palaniswami, demanding clarity on the AIADMK’s stand on contentious national issues such as the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which he described as “anti-minority.” He alleged that the Opposition party’s silence stemmed from its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing a campaign meeting in Paramakudi, Stalin accused the AIADMK of acting as a “facilitator” for the BJP’s entry into Tamil Nadu. Though the BJP has promised to implement the UCC in other States, it has refrained from openly pushing the agenda in Tamil Nadu due to the State’s strong Dravidian ideological base, he said.
Invoking the legacy of leaders such as Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, C. N. Annadurai, and M. Karunanidhi, Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s political culture has historically resisted religion-based politics. He suggested that voters are unlikely to support forces perceived as undermining social justice.
Framing the electoral contest as one between “Team Tamil Nadu and Team Delhi,” Stalin urged voters to defend the State’s autonomy and ideological identity.
Highlighting governance, Stalin said Tamil Nadu had emerged strongly from the COVID-19 crisis under his leadership. He claimed the State recorded an economic growth rate of 11.19 per cent, but stressed that further progress was necessary to build a distinct development model.
Turning to Centre-State relations, Stalin criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he termed inaction on the fishermen’s issue involving Sri Lanka. Questioning the Centre’s response, he asked why Indian fishermen continue to face arrests and hardships at the hands of the Sri Lankan Navy.
He also reiterated demands for the retrieval of Katchatheevu and greater protection for fishermen, noting that the State had passed Assembly resolutions and made repeated representations without tangible results.
Escalating his criticism of Palaniswami, Stalin questioned whether the AIADMK leader had opposed key BJP policies, including the UCC, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the three-language policy, and delimitation.
Alleging that Tamil Nadu’s interests were being compromised for political convenience, Stalin asserted that the State’s rights must not be “mortgaged,” and called on voters to back what he described as a broader fight for Tamil Nadu’s future rather than a mere electoral contest.