Chennai: In a recent exchange, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin hit back at former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) over his criticism of the newly released commemorative coin honoring late DMK patriarch Kalaignar Karunanidhi.
EPS had questioned why the coin featured Hindi text, sparking a sharp response from CM Stalin.
Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, raised concerns about the presence of Hindi on the commemorative coin released in honor of Karunanidhi. He questioned why a coin meant to honor a Tamil icon included Hindi, suggesting that it was an insult to Tamil pride and culture.
M.K. Stalin responded strongly, dismissing EPS’s criticism as a sign of his lack of political awareness. He pointed out that commemorative coins for all national leaders have always included Hindi, given that it is the official language of India. Stalin emphasized that the event where the coin was released was a function organized by the Union Government, not the state.
Stalin criticized EPS for not understanding the established norms of commemorative coins in India. He stated that it is common for all such coins to include Hindi, reflecting its status as an official language of the country.
Stalin clarified that the event where the coin was released was organized by the Union Government, implying that EPS should have recognized the significance of the national context instead of focusing on a regional language issue.
Stalin mentioned that similar commemorative coins were released for former Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai (Anna) and M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), which also included Hindi. He implied that EPS might not have been aware of these precedents.
The Chief Minister also took the opportunity to question EPS’s track record, pointing out that he did not even organize a memorial service for his party’s late leader, Jayalalithaa. This criticism was aimed at highlighting EPS’s perceived inconsistency in honouring leaders.
Stalin also recalled an instance where the Union Government did not honor EPS’s invitation to attend the event marking the release of the MGR commemorative coin, suggesting that EPS’s standing with the central government was not as strong as he might have claimed.
This exchange is part of a larger political rivalry between the DMK and AIADMK, with both sides frequently engaging in war of words over issues of regional pride, language, and political legacy.
EPS’s criticism of the commemorative coin was likely intended to galvanize support among Tamil nationalists who are sensitive to the imposition of Hindi, while Stalin’s rebuttal aimed to demonstrate his government’s alignment with national protocols and to undermine EPS’s credibility.
The controversy over the Kalaignar memorial coin is a reflection of the deep-rooted political rivalry in Tamil Nadu. As the state gears up for future elections, such exchanges are likely to intensify, with both sides seeking to appeal to their respective voter bases by focusing on issues of language, culture, and political legacy.