DMK has always safeguarded interests of minorities in Tamil Nadu, says Udhayanidhi

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Wednesday that the ruling DMK has always safeguarded interests of minorities and other marginalised sections in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing party cadre and residents in Ambur Assembly constituency, to seek votes for the incumbent DMK MLA A.C. Vilvanathan as part of election campaign for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Mr. Udhayanidhi said that DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin vehemently opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) when the law was passed in the Parliament in 2019. “On the contrary, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami supported the law, which could affect a section of minorities in the country, after pressure from the BJP,” he said.

The Deputy Chief minister listed out a series of initiatives taken by the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu since 2021 when the party came to power. Among these, he said that the State government has provided subsidiaries to the tune of around ₹10 crore to Haj pilgrims. Recently, Mr. Stalin has laid the foundation stone for a ₹40 crore government accommodation facility in Chennai for Haj pilgrims. The new facility will be inaugurated by Mr. Stalin himself when he returns to power in a few months, he said.

Reacting sharply to Mr. Palaniswami’s criticism against him on experience in politics during his election campaign, Mr. Udhayanidhi said, “He has the credit of having experience in pledging the rights of Tamil Nadu to the BJP-led Centre in New Delhi. On the contrary, DMK stands shoulder to shoulder with people to protect the State’s rights”.

Mr. Udhayanidhi assured voters that existing welfare schemes will be enhanced during the Dravidian Model 2.0 government by implementing poll promises of the DMK. Mr. Udhayanidhi also campaigned for the party candidates in Tirupattur, Vaniyambadi, Anaicut, Katpadi, and Vellore Assembly constituencies where incumbent Katpadi MLA and Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan participated along with Vellore MP D.M. Kathir Anand.