CM Stalin hits out at Amit Shah for ‘slandering’ DMK

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his recent accusation that the DMK government was functioning against the beliefs of Hindus.

Accusing Mr. Shah of indulging in slander, he said the Home Minister was not aware of what was happening in Tamil Nadu. He wondered if the Minister’s name was Amit Shah or “Avathooru” (slander) Shah.

Mr. Stalin was inaugurating various government projects and initiating new schemes for Dindigul district, which he praised for its historic valour.

The Chief Minister said the DMK government had performed the consecration of more than 4,000 temples. “Has this feat been achieved by any BJP-ruled State? Definitely not. The DMK government has also retrieved over 7,000 acres of temple lands. True devotees and spiritual leaders have praised the DMK government,” he said.

The government respects all faiths and protects their rights. For the Home Minister to make such a remark was unbecoming of his position. “Any plan to divide the people of Tamil Nadu and spread hate propaganda will not work here,” Mr. Stalin said.

The DMK leader pointed out that Mr. Shah, during his recent visit to Pudukottai, had asked the people there whether Modi’s government should be established in Tamil Nadu or not. “We are asking the same question. Should we (DMK front) establish the government in Tamil Nadu or should someone unrelated to us from Delhi rule over us? It is a question of self-respect of the Tamil people. We don’t have to explain to the people of Tamil Nadu that if they vote for the AIADMK alliance, the BJP will rule Tamil Nadu,” Mr Stalin said.

According to him, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is in alliance with the BJP that worked against the interest of the Tamils. “After the demise of former AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, the BJP had established a proxy rule in Tamil Nadu,” he said. “It was only under the DMK rule that Tamil Nadu had begun to recover and was standing tall,” he contended.

 He added that the people of Tamil Nadu had no faith in the NDA “that had done nothing for the people” and that was why it had faced crushing defeats in the 2019, 2021, and 2024 elections.

“When you won’t change your biased treatment of Tamil Nadu, do you think the Tamil people will change their decision? The people were on the side of the DMK government,” Mr. Stalin said.

The DMK government had worked for the benefit of everyone, and welfare schemes were introduced. The government focused on a balanced development of both urban and rural areas, he added.

Expressing confidence that the DMK front would win the upcoming Assembly election, he said the “good governance of the ‘Dravidian Model’ government” would continue and take Tamil Nadu to greater heights. The ‘Dravidian Model Government 2.0’ would witness greater achievements, he said.

Ministers I. Periyasamy, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, K.R. Periyakaruppan, R. Sakkarapani, Karur MP S. Jothimani, Dindigul MP R. Sachithanantham, MLAs I.P. Senthil Kumar and S. Gandhirajan, Dindigul Collector S. Saravanan, and other officials participated.