NDA will ruin developed State of T.N., if voted to power: Stalin

Stalin warns that NDA's rise threatens Tamil Nadu's development, pledging support for minorities and announcing welfare measures for Ulemas.

Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Wednesday accused the AIADMK and its general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of continuously betraying the interests of minorities by striking an alliance with the BJP for selfish interests.

“If the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comes to power, it will ruin the developed State of Tamil Nadu. Only the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance has the strength to prevent this,” Mr. Stalin said while addressing the Mahalla Jamaats (local mosque committees) conference organised by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on the outskirts of Kumbakonam.

The DMK, Mr. Stalin said, would always protect the rights of Muslims and safeguard the community. Tamil Nadu was the only State in the country that was safe for Muslims, and this was because of the DMK, he said.

“DMK was the protector of minorities. That’s why food politics and mob violence have not reared their heads. But the peaceful situation here irritated some, who tried to create confusion. They used agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, the CBI, and the Income Tax Department to issue threats and cobbled together an alliance that included the AIADMK. We all have a duty to drive them away. If we stand united, Tamil Nadu’s growth cannot be hindered,” he said.

Accusing Mr. Palaniswami of continuing his “journey against Muslims”, Mr. Stalin said the former Chief Minister had repeatedly betrayed the interests of minorities, especially by supporting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the Waqf (Amendment) Act, and that it was the DMK that opposed them and mounted a legal challenge.

He further alleged that if not for AIADMK’s support, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill would not have been passed in Parliament. “The AIADMK, while in power, refused to concede to our demand to adopt a resolution against the CAA in the Assembly. Later, when we moved a resolution against it on returning to power, the AIADMK MLAs, fearing the BJP, staged a walkout under the pretext of not being allotted enough time (to speak),” Mr. Stalin alleged, adding that he had “boldly announced” that the CAA would not be implemented in Tamil Nadu.