Chief Minister M K Stalin launched a sharp critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government on Saturday, accusing it of betraying Tamil Nadu despite the state making the highest contribution of tax revenue to the national exchequer.
Key Resolutions Passed in High-Stakes Meeting
Ahead of the upcoming Parliament session scheduled for Monday, Stalin chaired a crucial meeting with his party Members of Parliament where twelve significant resolutions were unanimously passed. The gathering served as a strategic planning session to coordinate the party's approach in the national legislature.
Most of the resolutions directly targeted the central government for what Stalin described as systematically undermining Tamil Nadu's interests. The comprehensive list of grievances included allegations that the Centre is deliberately taking away the rights of the state government and failing to allocate necessary funds for critical railway projects.
Specific Grievances Against Central Government
The resolutions highlighted several specific areas of contention. The BJP government has rejected metro rail projects proposed for two major Tamil Nadu cities - Madurai and Coimbatore - despite their potential to transform urban transportation.
In agricultural matters, the Centre has refused to relax moisture content norms for paddy procurement from 17% to 22%, creating difficulties for Tamil Nadu's farming community. The education sector has also suffered, with funds worth ₹3,548 crore being stalled under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan scheme.
Additional concerns raised included the implementation of four labour codes without adequate consultation and the failure to take decisive steps to rescue Tamil Nadu fishermen frequently arrested at sea by the Sri Lankan Navy.
Stalin's Strong Social Media Statement
Following the meeting, Stalin took to social media platform X to amplify his message. He asserted that Tamil Nadu would continue to grow economically despite what he characterized as deliberate hurdles created by the BJP government at the Centre.
"No one with a conscience would accept the betrayal of Tamil Nadu, a state that contributes the highest tax revenue," Stalin wrote in his post. He highlighted the state's achievement of 11.19% economic growth as evidence of Tamil Nadu's resilience in overcoming what he called the central government's "deceptions."
The Chief Minister emphasized that his government would not be intimidated, declaring: "We will not cower; we will stand tall and walk with pride."
Demanding Answers from Delhi
Stalin posed pointed questions about why the legitimate needs of Tamil Nadu are being consistently ignored by the BJP administration. He challenged the democratic credentials of a government that claims to represent the world's largest democracy while allegedly turning a deaf ear to the voices of Tamil Nadu's people.
"Is it right for BJP govt to ignore the voice of people of Tamil Nadu while proudly claiming to be the largest democracy?" he questioned. The CM noted that the state's demands have been presented through multiple channels including formal letters, in-person petitions, and legislative assembly resolutions, yet the Centre remains unresponsive.
Directive to Party MPs
Stalin issued clear instructions to his party's parliamentary representatives to aggressively raise all issues neglected by the BJP government during the upcoming Parliament session. He stressed the importance of holding the Union government accountable to the people of Tamil Nadu.
"The Union BJP govt must respond to representatives of people of Tamil Nadu," Stalin asserted, setting the stage for what promises to be a contentious parliamentary session where Tamil Nadu's grievances will take center stage.
The political confrontation comes at a critical juncture in center-state relations, with Tamil Nadu emerging as a vocal critic of the BJP government's approach to federalism and resource allocation.
