Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of denigrating the state and its people for political gain during his ongoing election campaign in North India. Stalin’s comments came in response to Modi’s recent statement in Odisha, where he implied that the missing keys to the Puri Jagannath temple’s treasury were in Tamil Nadu—a remark seen as a thinly veiled attack on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s aide, VK Pandian.
Stalin expressed outrage at Modi’s statement, asserting that it not only insulted the revered Lord Jagannath, worshipped by millions, but also offended the people of Tamil Nadu who maintain cordial relations with Odisha. “Can Prime Minister Modi accuse the people of Tamil Nadu of stealing the treasury of Lord Jagannath of Puri? Doesn’t terming the people here dishonest amount to insulting Tamil Nadu? Why does the PM harbour so much hatred against Tamils?” Stalin questioned.
The Chief Minister further accused Modi of hypocrisy, pointing out the inconsistency in the Prime Minister’s rhetoric. “The same Prime Minister, who glorifies the Tamil language and lauds the intellectual capacity of Tamils when he is in the State, projects the people as ‘thieves’ and ‘hate-mongers’ when he campaigns in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha,” Stalin said.
Stalin warned that the people would recognize Modi’s “double standards” and urged the Prime Minister to cease his derogatory remarks. “The Prime Minister must stop denigrating Tamil Nadu and Tamils for votes,” he cautioned.
Stalin also recalled a previous instance where he criticized Modi for alleging that leaders of southern states, including Tamil Nadu, were speaking derogatorily about the people of Uttar Pradesh. Despite that criticism, Stalin noted that Modi has continued to insult and denigrate the people of Tamil Nadu.
Early last week, Stalin, who also serves as the president of the ruling DMK party, acc