Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unleashed a vehement political offensive on Wednesday, directly targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a public address in Dindigul. Stalin branded Shah as "Avathooru Shah" (Slander Shah), accusing him of fabricating issues against the state's Dravidian Model government.
Stalin's Sharp Rebuttal to BJP's Allegations
The Chief Minister's ire was sparked by Amit Shah's recent remarks during his visit to Tamil Nadu, where the BJP leader alleged that the DMK administration was working against Hindu religious beliefs and practices. Stalin, speaking at a welfare assistance distribution event, condemned these accusations as entirely baseless and invented by leaders who could find no genuine fault with his government's performance.
"Does he even know what is happening here?" Stalin questioned the crowd, referring to the Home Minister. He presented a detailed rebuttal anchored in his government's record on temple management. Stalin asserted that since the DMK assumed power, consecration ceremonies had been performed for over 4,000 temples.
Furthermore, he highlighted a significant achievement in retrieving encroached temple lands. "7,655 acres of temple land, worth Rs 7,701 crore, belonging to 997 temples have been retrieved from encroachers," Stalin stated, challenging the BJP to match this record in any of the states it governs.
A Question of Tamil Nadu's Self-Respect
The Chief Minister framed the upcoming assembly elections as a critical juncture for the state's autonomy. He positioned the contest as a choice between being governed by its own people or being "ruled from Delhi." Stalin alleged that a vote for the AIADMK-led alliance would effectively usher the BJP into power in Tamil Nadu, a claim he supported by referencing Shah's own rhetorical question to voters in Pudukottai about wanting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rule.
"After the death of J Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu was under BJP's proxy rule. Only in the last five years under the DMK has the state begun to recover," Stalin claimed. He expressed confidence in the people's support, citing the BJP's "resounding defeats" in the state during the 2019, 2021, and 2024 elections.
Stalin emphasized that the DMK respects all religions and safeguards religious rights, calling Shah's accusations "unbecoming of a Union Home Minister." He declared that attempts to incite communal discord had failed in Tamil Nadu and would continue to fail as long as he is in charge. "Those who want to create riots and divide people have not succeeded, and they never will," he asserted.
Major Development Announcements for Dindigul District
Alongside his political address, the Chief Minister unveiled a series of development projects for Dindigul district, totaling significant investment. Key announcements include:
- Upgradation of basic amenities like roads, streetlights, and drinking water in corporation areas at a cost of Rs 14.20 crore.
- Renovation of the existing Underground Drainage (UGD) system and treatment plants in the corporation for Rs 38 crore.
- Development of a world-class Tourism Investment Park on 100 acres in Vilpatti village for Kodaikanal tourists, facilitated through SIPCOT.
- Establishment of a world-class moringa processing industry in Markampatti near Oddanchatram at Rs 7 crore to boost exports.
- Enhancement of the sacred waters (theerthams) of the Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple in Palani with an allocation of Rs 6 crore.
The event was attended by state ministers I. Periyasamy, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, K.R. Periyakaruppan, R. Sakkarapani, Dindigul MP R. Sachithanantham, Karur MP S. Jothimani, and local MLAs and the District Collector S. Saravanan.
