Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin Issues Stern Warning to BJP Over Delimitation Exercise
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin delivered a forceful warning to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, stating that if the Union government proceeds with a delimitation exercise, the country will witness massive protests by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) similar to those held in the 1950s and 1960s against Hindi imposition.
Stalin's Video Message on X Highlights Concerns
In a video message posted on X, Stalin emphasized that Tamil Nadu would come to a standstill if the BJP advances its plan to introduce legislation aimed at increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850. This legislation is scheduled for discussion during a special Parliament session from April 16 to 18.
"Do not assume that you can quietly carry out delimitation in Delhi since this is election period and our attention is elsewhere. Don’t even entertain that thought," Stalin declared, addressing the BJP directly.
Stalin Speaks as CM and DMK President
Stalin clarified that he was speaking not only in his capacity as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu but also as the president of the DMK. "You will witness a Tamil Nadu that you have not seen before. India will once again witness DMK of the 1950s and 1960s," he asserted, referencing historical protests against linguistic imposition.
He further warned that if the delimitation process negatively impacts Tamil Nadu or disproportionately enhances the political power of northern states, the state will not remain silent. "Tamil Nadu will come to a standstill. Every family will take to the streets. Under my leadership, we will organise massive agitations," Stalin vowed.
Questioning the Special Parliament Session
Stalin raised concerns about the rationale behind convening the special Parliament session in a hurried manner. "It is being forcibly convened in the midst of elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. In this session, Union government intends to bulldoze through a Constitutional amendment on delimitation," he criticized.
He expressed doubts over the proposed delimitation exercise, noting that specifics of the process remain unclear. "No explanation has been provided so far regarding the proposed Constitutional amendment. When such secrecy surrounds the process, it only strengthens the suspicion that grave danger lies beneath. The people of the southern states are gripped with deep concern," Stalin explained.
DMK MPs to Participate in Session
Despite the ongoing election campaigning, Stalin confirmed that DMK Members of Parliament will participate in the special session. "Even amid the relentless pace of election campaigning, this duty cannot be set aside," he stated, underscoring the importance of addressing this issue in Parliament.
The warning from Stalin highlights escalating tensions between the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and the BJP-led Union government over potential changes to parliamentary representation, with fears of political marginalization for southern states driving the threat of widespread protests.
