Chennai, Apr 9:
Wondering whether India was sliding into dictatorship over the Delimitation exercise, M. K. Stalin on Wednesday criticised the BJP-led Union Government’s urgency in convening a special session of Parliament amid Assembly elections in five states.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President said forcing through far-reaching constitutional amendments without even convening an all-party consultation was “nothing short of dictatorship.”
He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to the “fair and pressing questions” raised by the people of the South.
The Delimitation exercise has triggered widespread apprehension about a potential reduction in Parliamentary representation for southern states, which have effectively implemented population control measures. The ruling DMK has strongly opposed the move, arguing it would disproportionately increase seats in northern states that have seen higher population growth.
In a detailed post on X, Mr Stalin questioned why the Centre was shrouding the delimitation process in secrecy instead of clearly outlining its plans. Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee deferring delimitation in 2001 by 25 years in the national interest, he asked why a similar approach could not be adopted now.
He also raised concerns about the timing of the proposed special session, asking why it was being convened in the middle of ongoing state elections and why the Centre had ignored Opposition demands to hold it after April 29. “What is it trying to hide?” he asked.
“The questions raised by the Opposition and the media are not being answered. Will at least the questions of the people be answered?” Stalin asked.
Cautioning the Centre, he asserted that the DMK would not remain silent if the rights of southern states were compromised. “This concerns the future of the people who live here,” he said.
“Any decision taken without our consent, without even engaging with us, will not be accepted, come what may. Do not turn a calm South into a storm,” he warned, reiterating the demand for #FairDelimitation.