CM Stalin at a programme to mark four years of his rule: In a post on X, Stalin urged the people of Tamil Nadu to join the rally to honour the bravery and sacrifices of the Indian Army. Photo: PTI

Stalin to hold rally in Chennai in support of Indian Army on May 10

The rally is scheduled to take place in Chennai at 5 pm; it will start from the DGP’s office and conclude at the War Memorial

Mahalingam Ponnusamy
9 May 2025 2:09 PM IST (Updated:2025-05-09 09:18:48)

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced that he will stage a rally in Chennai to show solidarity with the Indian army, which is currently engaged in a battle against Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism.

The rally is scheduled to take place in Chennai on May 10 at 5 pm. It will start from the Director General of Police (DGP)’s office and conclude at the War Memorial.

India is currently dealing with serious security challenges, especially after the Indian Army carried out Operation Sindoor, to target terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), following a heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

CM Stalin, in a post on X, urged the people of Tamil Nadu to join the rally to honour the bravery and sacrifices of the Indian Army.

Politics over war?

While some have welcomed the announcement, others have raised concerns about the timing and purpose of the rally. Lt Col N Thiagarajan (Retd), vice-president of ABPSSP Tamil Nadu, criticised the DMK government claiming that the rally is politically motivated.

He said, “The people of Tamil Nadu have always supported our army. What is the use of a rally now when the war is on? Nothing will come out of it. The DMK is just doing politics over the war.”

Thiagarajan pointed out other issues that he believes the TN government should focus on instead.

Illegal immigrant issue

He raised concerns over illegal immigrants in the state. “The government should identify and deport illegal immigrants. Many from Bangladesh might be sleeper cells, and the government seems clueless,” said Thiagarajan.

Also read: Political leaders across party lines hail Indian army, support Operation Sindoor

Further, he highlighted a recent petition in the Madras High Court, which claimed that around 46,000 foreign nationals are illegally living in TN even after their visas have expired. The court has asked both the TN government and the central government to submit a report on this matter.

Ex-gratia compensation for soldiers

Thiagarajan also slammed the TN government for not increasing the ex-gratia compensation for soldiers from the state who were martyred in the line of duty.

Comparing TN to other states, he pointed out, “Telangana gives upto Rs 1 crore as compensation, but TN provides only Rs 20-40 lakh. If the DMK really cares about the army, they should collect funds and send them to the PM’s emergency fund instead of holding rallies.”

BJP welcomes DMK move

On the other hand, Thirupathy Narayanan, a BJP spokesperson, completely supported DMK’s move. He said, “We welcome the DMK’s decision. During wartime, we must show our solidarity and support to our Indian forces. This is the right step to take.”

EPS's move

Meanwhile, AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) too praised the Indian Army for its efforts in Operation Sindoor.

Also read: 'India at war with terrorists': Vinay Kwatra, Indian ambassador to US

EPS called for national unity during this critical time. He also made a request to his party members, asking them not to celebrate his upcoming birthday with gatherings or events.

Instead, he urged them to focus on social welfare activities like blood donation drives, medical camps, and distributing aid to the underprivileged.

Tamil NaduMK StalinOperation Sindoor

About the AuthorMahalingam Ponnusamy

Mahalingam Ponnusamy is Editor - Special Projects with The Federal.