Tamil Nadu will always be out of Delhi's control, no Shah can rule it: Stalin

Upping the ante against the Modi-Shah duo ahead of the Assembly elections next year, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday (April 18) accused the BJP government at the Centre of undermining Tamil Nadu’s rights and autonomy.

The DMK government has been at loggerheads with the Centre over issues such as the three-language policy, delimination and exemption from NEET.

The Chief Minister, addressing a large gathering at a government event in Tiruvallur, posed a series of questions to Shah. He challenged the Union Home Minister to provide guarantees on critical issues like NEET exemptions, Hindi imposition, and special funds for Tamil Nadu, and fair delimitation of parliamentary seats.

Also Read: TN vs Centre: Stalin forms high-level panel to push for state autonomy

The event, organised to highlight state welfare initiatives, turned into a platform for Stalin to reaffirm Tamil Nadu’s stand against what he described as Delhi’s overreach, and highlight the Dravidian model.

“I want to ask Union Home Minister Amit Shah, can he give assurance to provide exemption (to Tamil Nadu) from NEET? Can he give assurance that he will not impose Hindi? Can he list out the release of special funds to Tamil Nadu? Can you give your word that delimitation won’t reduce seats of Tamil Nadu in parliamentary elections?” Stalin asked, drawing loud applause from the crowd.

Also Read: NEET exam: Tamil Nadu govt to fight legally for exemption

Rebutting Modi’s narrative

Stalin also issued a sharp rebuttal to the recent allegation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who without directly naming the DMK government said that some just keep crying despite having adequate allocation of funds from the Centre.

Stalin said: I want to ask Union Home Minister Amit Shah, can he give Tamil Nadu exemption from NEET? Can he give assurance that he will not impose Hindi? Can he list out the release of special funds to Tamil Nadu?

The Prime Minister made the remarks during the recent inauguration of the Pamban Bridge in Rameswaram, where he suggested that Tamil Nadu complains despite receiving central funds.

Stalin recalled Modi’s own words as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, when he had questioned whether states seeking central funds were “beggars.” “How is it fair to call our demands crying? I’m not crying—this is Tamil Nadu’s right,” Stalin said.

'Dismissive attitude'

The DMK chief accused the Prime Minister of adapting a dismissive attitude towards states after becoming Prime Minister. He pointed out that earlier as Gujarat Chief Minister Modi used to advocate states’ rights. “If states had more self-governance, we could do so much more for our people,” said Stalin.

Defending the Dravidian Model, Stalin accused the BJP of engineering defection in rival parties to form governments in other states, a tactic he claimed would never succeed in Tamil Nadu.

Stalin also took potshots at the recently declared AIADMK-BJP alliance and said, "No matter how many allies you bring, the DMK is ready to face you.”

In a bid to project Tamil Nadu as a champion of state’s rights, Stalin said: “We are not just fighting for Tamil Nadu; we are fighting for the rights of all states.” Hs wondered what was wrong with asking for a state’s autonomy.