Tag: stalin

Categories
India News Politics

Stalin targets PM on Lok Sabha results

Stalin also asserted that the victory of the DMK in coalition with Congress was historic in the state…reports Asian Lite News

DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin claimed that the Lok Sabha results were Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “defeat” and he became the PM because of the support of TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu and JDU’s Nitish Kumar.

While addressing a public meeting in Coimbatore on Saturday, the Tamil Nadu CM also targeted the BJP over its slogan of ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’, saying, “Despite a lot of efforts, the BJP got only 240 seats.”

“This is not Modi’s victory, but Modi’s defeat. Modi is the Prime Minister because of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar. If they had not supported it, where would Modi have gotten the majority from? BJP can’t do anything as per their wish,” Stalin said.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a majority for the third time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning 293 seats. The BJP won 240 seats on its own, in the 543-member lower house, where the majority mark stands at 272. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU, had won 16 and 12 seats respectively, in their respective states and extended their support to the NDA.

Stalin also asserted that the victory of the DMK in coalition with Congress was historic in the state.

“This is not an ordinary victory. This is a historic victory. This is the victory of all the workers and people who trusted our government…,” Stalin said.

Notably, in the Lok Sabha elections, the DMK and Congress fought together and the coalition secured 31 out of 39 seats. The DMK had won 22 seats, while Congress secured nine seats. On the other hand, CPI and CPI (M) secured two seats each.

Stepping up his attacks on the BJP, Stalin said, “In 2004, Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi, former Tamil Nadu CM) got us a 40/40 victory (39 seats of Tamil Nadu and one seat of Puducherry). That time, AIADMK was ruling the government… In 2004, the exit poll predicted (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee would form the government but Congress formed the government. A similar thing has happened. Many said BJP would cross 400 but it has broken and we made BJP not cross majority single-handedly.” (ANI)

ALSO READ-Stalin hits out at PM over speech on Jagannath temple

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Stalin hits out at PM over speech on Jagannath temple

Chennai, Feb 14 (ANI): Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin moves a resolution against the 'One Nation One Election' policy in the State Assembly, in Chennai on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)

MK Stalin also accused PM Modi of depicting Tamilians as robbers during his visit to other states including Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh…reports Asian Lite News

Amid a heated political campaign over the missing keys of the Lord Jagannath Temple’s Ratna Bhandar (treasury) in Odisha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said PM Modi’s double standards are exposed from his malicious thoughts towards Tamil Nadu.

On Monday, PM Modi raised the issue of missing keys of Ratna Bhandar of Jagannath Temple and held the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government responsible for this.

Condemning PM Modi over his election speech in Odisha, Tamil Nadu CM said, “PM Modi’s double standard is exposed from his malicious thoughts towards Tamil Nadu. He should stop defaming my people for votes.”

“PM Modi’s statement that missing keys of Ratna Bandar of the famous temple Jagannath Temple have gone to Tamil Nadu is defaming crores of devotees of Lord Jagannath and disrespecting the people of Tamil Nadu. Is this speech not creating enmity and turning Odisha people towards Tamil Nadu? Can PM Modi blame the Tamil Nadu people for the robbery of temple keys? Is this not disrespecting Tamil Nadu?” he further said.

MK Stalin also accused PM Modi of depicting Tamilians as robbers during his visit to other states including Rajasthan, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

“When PM Modi visits Tamil Nadu speaking highly about the Tamil language but when he visits Rajasthan, Odisha, UP, MP for votes he depicts Tamilians as robbers and hate against people of Tamil Nadu, this shows PM Modi’s double standard. People will understand this,” he added.

The Ratna Bhandar, a treasure trove of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, houses the ornaments of the sibling deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra – that erstwhile kings have offered over centuries and devotees from all over the world.

The Ratna Bhandar consists of two chambers: the Bhitar Bhandar (inner chamber) and the Bahara Bhandar (outer chamber).

Prime Minister Modi held a roadshow in the holy city of Puri on Monday along with BJP candidate Sambit Patra and addressed two public rallies later in the day.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The counting and results will be declared on June 4. (ANI)

ALSO READ-April 19 is day of second freedom struggle: Stalin

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News Politics

April 19 is day of second freedom struggle: Stalin

The TN CM accused the BJP of “creating divisions” in the country with their “hate politics” and said if the BJP returns to power, it will “destroy” the whole country…reports Asian Lite News

Launching a scathing attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the polling day of the state is “war for the second freedom struggle of country”, while also affirming confidence that the INDIA bloc will win all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

He accused the BJP of “creating divisions” in the country with their “hate politics” and said if the BJP returns to power, it will “destroy” the whole country.

Addressing a public meeting, Stalin accused the BJP of misusing the central agencies and said, “We will win 40 out of 40 seats…Jharkhand CM and Delhi CM are in jail, the reason you know? It is because of the fear of the elections. He knows that if election takes place in an equal race, he will be defeated. That’s why he has done such things.”

“Day after tomorrow is a war for second freedom struggle of the country,” he added.

The Tamil Nadu CM further alleged that the BJP works only for corporations and does not care for the people.

“They (BJP) do not think about the people, they only think of the corporates…All parties are getting election funds, that’s not an issue, but BJP is getting via CBI, ED, and IT raids,” he stated.

Further attacking the BJP, he said that if BJP returns to power, the country will be “destroyed” with ‘divisive policies’ and urged people to vote wisely.

“Whenever he (PM Modi) opens his mouth, he speaks on religion, caste, and divides people and does hate politics. Yesterday he went to West Bengal and said hateful things. If Modi comes to power, he will divide people and destroy India. There will be no democracy. Ambedkar’s law will be thrown away and RSS law will be implemented,” Stalin said.

“I appeal young voters to think and vote. If you vote for BJP, then India will be destroyed and BJP will make it Gujarat model, which has flopped and our Dravidian model is shining.,” he further added.

He also attacked AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami, calling him the “B team of BJP”.

“Edappadi Palaniswami is B team of BJP. On one hand, he says he is not in alliance with BJP but he can’t oppose BJP…he has betrayed Sasikala, OPS (O Panneerselvam) and TTV Dinakaran,” he said.

The INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu is led by the DMK and includes the Congress, Left parties, IUML, VCK, actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s MNM, Vaiko’s MDMK, and the Gounder community-based KMDK.

The principal opposition party in the state, AIADMK, which recently severed its ties with the BJP, has put together an alliance of minor parties, including the DMDK, Puthiya Tamilagam (PT) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).

All 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and the only seat from Puducherry will be polled in the first phase of the general elections on April 19, and the counting of votes, along with those from other phases, has been scheduled for June 4.

During the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance registered a landslide victory, winning 38 of the 39 seats. The Congress, which was also a part of the alliance, bagged 8 seats out of the nine contested.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on the other hand, won only one seat while BJP failed to open its account. (ANI)

Owaisi declares support to AIADMK

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslilmeen (AIMIM) has decided to extend support to AIADMK in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

This was announced by AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday.

He said AIMIM’s Tamil Nadu unit president T. S. Vakeel Ahmed and other leaders met AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswamy, who gave an assurance that his party will not have an electoral alliance with the BJP even in future.

“He has assured us that AIADMK will oppose CAA, NPR and NRC that is why our party AIMIM has entered into an electoral alliance with the AIADMK,” Owaisi said in a video message.

Owaisi, whose party is not part of either the NDA or INDIA alliance, appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu to exercise their vote in favour of AIADMK wherever it has fielded its candidates.

Owaisi said he wanted to visit Tamil Nadu and meet people and AIADMK leadership but he was unable to do so as he was busy with the campaign for his party candidates in other states.

AIADMK, which snapped ties with BJP-led NDA late last year, is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with DMDK, Puthiya Tamilagam and the Social Democratic Party of India.

Of 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK is contesting 32 seats, leaving five seats to DMDK and one each to Puthiya Tamilagam and the Social Democratic Party of India.

Polling for all Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu is scheduled on April 19.

ALSO READ-Stalin says India on brink of most critical election

Categories
-Top News India News

Stalin launches scathing attack on PM

Criticising Modi, Tamil Nadu CM questioned why did PM did not speak to the Sri Lanka government to return Kachchatheevu Island…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President MK Stalin slammed the BJP for raising the Kachchatheevu issue ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and said that the issue has started to backfire now.

Criticising PM Modi, Stalin further questioned that the PM did not speak to the Sri Lanka government to return Kachchatheevu Island.

“How much time PM Narendra Modi has gone to Sri Lanka in the last 10 years? Has he asked the Sri Lanka government to give back Kachchatheevu Island even once? When he met Sri Lankan president did he tell that Katchatheevu Island belongs to India? At that time Katchatheevu is not remembered by PM Modi,” Stalin said.

He asked PM Modi if he remembers that the Kachchatheevu issue took place during the Nehru and Indira Gandhi period, but does he remember an event that happened before two years?

“PM Modi, on May 26, 2022 came to Chennai at Nehru Indoor Stadium and participated in an event. In that event, I requested and asked him to release GST fund, and give exemption for NEET exam (to Tamil Nadu). My first request was to retrieve Kachchatheevu Island which is the rights of our fisherman. Does he remember it? Has he at least read the request memorandum,” CM Stalin said.

CM Stalin further stated that in 2015, S Jaishankar then foreign secretary had said that Kachchatheevu was never a part of India and now since the election has arrived as per their wish the statement is changed, he added.

“For many years whenever questions were raised in parliament on Kachchatheevu Island issue, no proper answer was given. Many initiated RTI applications to get data on Katchatheevu island, but no clarification was given. The BJP government said the issue-related case is in Supreme Court and didn’t give information on it but now how it has given information through RTI,” he hit out at BJP.

He alleged that PM Modi was suddenly shedding crocodile tears for Katchatheevu Island. “In the last 10 years PM Modi never spoke about shoot-out incident against Tamil fisherman and the arrest of fisherman by Sri Lankan Navy, has PM Modi condemned Sri Lanka ever?” he asked.

Further coming down heavily on PM, Stalin said that Modi ji never has never spoken on encroachment by China.

“China is claiming many places in Arunachal Pradesh. More than 30 places have been named in Chinese language. What are you going to say on it? You don’t have the guts to oppose China. In such a situation do you have the right to speak on Kachchatheevu?,” he asserted.

The development comes as PM Modi on Tuesday hit out at the Congress party, accusing it of “dividing the country into pieces” during its 60 year-long regime.

“There was an island under the sea in Tamil Nadu, but the Congress gave it to Sri Lanka and now when our fishermen venture into that area by mistake, they are arrested. Can this Congress ever protect our land when it gave our Katchatheevu to another country,” the PM said.

Coming down heavily on Congress, he further said that the party has given poll ticket to its leader who asked to divide the country into north and south regions, instead of punishing him.

“Congress could not develop the border villages of the country and termed the last villages, but the BJP called those villages the first ones and developed them. If the Congress government had remained in power till date, our former soldiers would have not got ‘one rank one pension’,” the prime minister alleged.

PM Modi on Monday also targeted the DMK for mishandling the Katchatheevu island issue and alleged the ruling party of Tamil Nadu did nothing to safeguard the state’s interests.

New details emerging on the issue of India handing over the Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka have unmasked the DMK’s double standards totally, PM Modi posted on X, citing a news report that said that then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had given his concurrence to the agreement despite his party’s public posturing against the deal.

“Rhetoric aside, DMK has done NOTHING to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests. New details emerging on #Katchatheevu have UNMASKED the DMK’s double standards totally. Congress and DMK are family units. They only care that their own sons and daughters rise. They don’t care for anyone else. Their callousness on Katchatheevu has harmed the interests of our poor fishermen and fisherwomen in particular,” PM Modi tweeted.

The media report is based on an RTI reply received by Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai to his queries on the 1974 agreement between India and Lanka when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast votes in the general election. All 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 19 and the counting of votes will be held on June 4.

Tamil Nadu ranks fifth in terms of Lok Sabha seats, with 39 seats, including 32 unreserved seats and seven reserved for SC candidates. In the 2019 elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance secured an overwhelming victory, winning 38 out of 39 seats.

In 2019, DMK won 23 Lok Sabha seats with a 33.2 per cent vote share, Congress bagged 8 seats with a 12.9 per cent vote and CPI won two seats in Tamil Nadu. (ANI)

ALSO READ-BJP’s drama will not work in TN, says Stalin

Categories
India News Politics

Your vote is to elect a humane PM, urges Stalin

The Chief Minister hit out at PM Modi for blaming Congress and DMK over the Sri Lankan Navy’s action against Tamil Nadu fishermen…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged the people to utilise their votes to elect a ‘humane Prime Minister’.

While addressing the voters in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli, CM Stalin said that the people’s vote will decide if someone who respects the state and not hate the Tamilians becomes the PM.

The DMK leader was campaigning for the party’s candidates in Tirunelveli.

“Your vote is to elect a humane Prime Minister. If someone who respects Tamil Nadu and does not hate Tamils should become the Prime Minister, then it is in your hands. Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to lose the election for that. If Modi becomes Prime Minister again, they will ruin India by sowing seeds of hatred,” Stalin said.

“One central minister calls Tamils beggars, and another central minister calls Tamils terrorists. Why so much anger towards Tamils? They think that they can create hatred and division among the people and do politics. But it never happens,” he said.

The Chief Minister hit out at PM Modi for blaming Congress and DMK over the Sri Lankan Navy’s action against Tamil Nadu fishermen.

“There is no other Prime Minister in the history of India who has hated the people of Tamil Nadu as much as Prime Minister Modi. Prime Minister Modi has said that the Congress and DMK are responsible for the attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. I want to ask one thing. Who has ruled for decades? The Modi government watched silently when more than three thousand fishermen were arrested,” he said.

He further criticised the Prime Minister for not allotting relief funds for the state post-floods.

“A few days ago, Modi visited Tirunelveli and Kumari districts. But where were you when the flood came? Not a single rupee was given as a relief fund. It’s okay, even if you don’t give relief funds, have you consoled the people?” he said.

The Chief Minister further informed the state’s decision to approach the Supreme Court against the central government.

“We asked for compensation of Rs 37,000 crores to restore the flood-affected places, but it was not given. We are going to file a case in the Supreme Court against the central government, which is refusing to give us what we are asking for. I am announcing this publicly through this meeting,” CM Stalin said.

“We are seeing how the governor’s nose is cut off and the governor is sitting in that position without shame, dignity,. We are going to approach the court. (ANI)

ALSO READ-‘Tamil Nadu Will Not Implement CAA’

Categories
India News Politics

Cong finalises pact with Stalin

Mumbai, Mar 18 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin greet each other during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Manzil - INDIA Rally following Rahul Gandhi's culmination of the 63-day-long Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

MDMK, IUML and KMDK (DMK Symbol) have been given one seat each while VCK, CPM, CPI get two seats each in the Lok Sabha polls…reports Asian Lite News

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has finalised the seat-sharing taks with the alliance ahead of the 2024 general election. Congress is set to contest nine seats in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry while the ruling DMK will contest on 21 seats.

In one or two days DMK is likely to release the candidates list also.

The seats on which Congress will fight in Tamil Nadu are Thiruvallur, Krishnagiri, Karur, Cuddalore, Myladuthurai, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari.

MDMK, IUML and KMDK (DMK Symbol) have been given one seat each while VCK, CPM, CPI get two seats each in the Lok Sabha polls.

Earlier, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said “The Congress will contest elections for nine seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat in Puducherry. On the remaining seats, we will support the candidates of the DMK and alliance parties. We will win all seats in Tamil Nadu.”

“The Congress and the DMK will not get separated,” he emphasised.

On Sunday the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Chief MK Stalin attended the closing day of the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Yatra in Mumbai. Stalin applauded former Congress President Rahul Gandhi for the Yatra and plegded his support to the INDIA bloc.

“My dear brother Rahul Gandhi has completed the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, traversing the length and breadth of India to unite us all. With a heart filled with compassion and a vision for justice, he stands as a guiding light, countering divisive forces with the strength of unity and inclusivity” the Tamil Nadu CM posted on X.

Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the DMK-led alliance secured a landslide victory by bagging 38 out of 39 seats. The Congress, which was also a part of the alliance, bagged 8 seats out of the nine contested. The DMK had a vote share of 33.2 percent while the Congress’ vote share was 12.9 percent.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on the other hand, won only one seat.

Makkal Needhi Maiam president and actor Kamal Hassan has also announced his decision to support DMK led alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)

PMK joins hands with BJP

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Monday entered an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu, and will be a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

For the past several days, PMK, which has a significant influence in northern Tamil Nadu, has been oscillating between the AIADMK and the BJP.

PMK founder and party leader S. Ramadoss, and its former state unit president, G.K. Mani were in favour of an alliance with the AIADMK. However, the party’s Tamil Nadu unit president and son of S. Ramadoss – Anbumani Ramadoss, wished for an alliance with the BJP.

The BJP, according to sources, is likely to offer a Cabinet berth to Anbumani Ramadoss in the next government. Anbumani Ramadoss is also a former Union Health minister.

Political analysts believe that the BJP, by stitching an alliance with the PMK, can gain tremendously in several districts of Tamil Nadu, and that could be a setback for the AIADMK in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

A senior leader of the PMK said, “We don’t know why Anbumani is preferring a BJP alliance. In the long term game, it is the tie-up with the AIADMK that would benefit the PMK and not an alliance with the BJP. Without a Dravidian majority, survival in Tamil Nadu politics is almost zero. PMK has to take several factors into consideration before jumping into a conclusion and in a couple of days a decision will be taken.”

He also said that in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Assembly elections, BJP and PMK were together in the NDA alliance led by the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu.

The PMK has considerable influence in several northern districts of Tamil Nadu and the decision of electoral tie-up could lead to even a split in the strongholds of the party.

Political analyst, Dr. Krishnan Mahesh said, ”Dr. Ramadoss being a shrewd politician is weighing the pros and cons. He is the one who brought prosperity to the Vanniyar people by getting reservations in education and jobs and standing up to the rights of the community. He is highly respected and has a major say in the party and Anbumani will fall in line to the decision of Dr. Ramadoss.“

ALSO READ-‘Victory alliance’ to continue for LS polls, says Stalin

Categories
India News Politics

‘Tamil Nadu Will Not Implement CAA’

CM MK Stalin dismissed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as ‘divisive and bereft of any use’ and asserted that it will not be implemented in the state…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) only “creates division” and would not be implemented in the southern Indian state.

“The BJP government’s divisive agenda has weaponised the Citizenship Act, turning it from a beacon of humanity to a tool of discrimination based on religion and race through the enactment of CAA. By betraying Muslims and Sri Lankan Tamils, they sowed seeds of division,” Stalin said in a statement on X.”

Despite staunch opposition from democratic forces like the DMK, the CAA was passed with the support of BJP’s stooge ADMK. Fearing backlash from the people, the BJP kept the act in cold storage. After DMK came to power in 2021, we passed a resolution in TNLA urging the Union Government to repeal the CAA to safeguard the unity of our nation, uphold social harmony, and protect the ideal of secularism enshrined in our constitution,” said the chief minister who heads the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Stalin also questioned the notification of the CAA rules more than four years after Parliament passed the legislation in December 2019.

“Now, as elections loom, Prime Minister Modi seeks to salvage his sinking ship by cynically resurrecting the Citizenship Amendment Act, exploiting religious sentiments for political gain. However, the people of India will never forgive the BJP for unleashing this divisive Citizenship Amendment Act and their spineless lackeys, the ADMK, who shamelessly supported it. People will teach them a befitting lesson,” Stalin wrote on X.

Earlier on Monday, soon after the implementation of the CAA was notified, the chief minister slammed the BJP government at the Centre for doing so in haste when the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner.

The CAA rules, introduced by the Narendra Modi government and passed by Parliament in 2019, aim to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants – including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians – who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

Annamalai questions Stalin’s authority

After Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that his government would not implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in the state, BJP TN President Annamalai questioned the authority of the CM to prevent the act to come into force.

The BJP Chief, while addressing a press conference here, claimed that persecuted minorities are happy with the implementation of the CAA.

“In these three countries any religious persecuted minorities have come in so they will be granted citizenship by following a process… This amendment is not going to take a citizen from anybody, in fact, people are going to gain their citizenship. In what world Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is living? So what authority does he have to say that I am going to prevent this from happening, he cannot prevent it, how can he prevent it?” Annamalai said.

He further said that the statement made by MK Stalin ‘is going against the oath he has taken’.

“It is going against the oath he has taken, better he resigns and gives a political speech…All the religious persecuted minorities are happy yesterday they celebrated sweets, are then not our people?” he added.

Stalin on Tuesday dismissed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as ‘divisive and bereft of any use’ and asserted that it will not be implemented in the state. (ANI)

AIADMK Calls CAA a ‘Historical Blunder’

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday criticised the central government for notifying the rules for implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019.

The AIADMK leader called it ‘huge historical blunder.’

“In the context of the announcement of general elections, the ruling BJP government at the Center has published a notification in the gazette that the CAA Act 2019 (Citizenship Amendment Act) will be implemented from today. AIADMK has been insisting that this Act should not affect any indigenous community in the country,” Palaniswami said in a post on X on Tuesday.

The AIADMK leader alleged that this has been carried out for ‘electoral gains’ and ‘divide the people’.

“The CAA has been implemented for electoral gain in order to create division among the people in view of the upcoming elections. AIADMK vehemently opposes this action of the central government which has been carried out to divide the people,” the post mentioned.

“The central government has made a huge historical blunder by this notification. AIADMK will never allow this Amendment Act. I would like to inform you that AIADMK will fight democratically along with the people of the country against this,” Palaniswami said.

AIADMK MLA VV Rajan Chellappa on Tuesday said that his party had signed the CAA guarantee with conditions during the alliance with BJP.

Speaking to reporters in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai, Chellappa said, “The then AIADMK government under Edappadi K Palaniswami did not sign the CAA wholeheartedly. AIADMK signed the CAA with conditions during the alliance with BJP. AIADMK will always support good deeds. We do not fully support the CAA.”

On March 11, the Union Home Ministry notified the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), days ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule.

The CAA rules, introduced by the Narendra Modi government and passed by Parliament in 2019, aim to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants–including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians–who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Stalin Urges Centre to Help Indian Fishermen Held in Lanka

Categories
Asia News India News Politics

Stalin slams Governor Ravi’s actions as ‘childish’

Chief Minister Stalin said this in the legislative Assembly while giving a Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address….reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin said on Thursday that his government was challenging autocratic rule and would not be cowed down by the “childish behaviour” of Tamil Nadu Governor, RN Ravi.

Chief Minister Stalin said this in the legislative Assembly while giving a Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address.

Stalin accused the Governor of using the Assembly for the extension of his political activities.

Stressing on his Dravidian roots, Stalin said that his ‘Dravidian Model’ government had overcome many obstacles in the past and would continue to “pulverise obstacles.”

Referring to the refusal of RN Ravi to read the prepared text of the Governor‘s address, Stalin said, “Let me say in my capacity as the leader of a movement that is capable of pulverising obstacles, that I am Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin. I cannot be browbeaten or stopped.”

The Chief Minister said, “Protocol demands that the Governor address the House at the beginning of the session. The Governor, however, behaved in a way that made us believe that he was using the Assembly as an extension of his political activities. Was it not an act that denigrated a century-old Assembly? Was it not an act that slighted the people of Tamil Nadu? Was it not amounting to violating and denigrating the Constitution by which he took the oath of office?”

The Chief Minister added that there was a time when it was said that North India was progressing and the South was languishing.

Now South India has achieved growth and is contributing to the progress of the North, he pointed out.

Stalin said that this growth was achieved and became possible because of the Dravidian Movement.

He said, “The government is not just to wield power, it is a tool to implement our ideology.”

Stalin said that the 33 months of his government had proved to be months of development and achievements.

Stalin added that Tamil Nadu’s share of the Indian economy was nine per cent, and this was his government’s first achievement.

He also said that rivals were angry because the Tamil Nadu Government had removed oppressive forces and had uplifted the oppressed.

ALSO READ: India Inc Seals $6.1B Deal Bonanza in January

Categories
India News Politics

Stalin to lead I.N.D.I.A. Alliance in TN, Puducherry

AICC in-charge Ajoy Kumar exuded confidence that the alliance will win all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry combined…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin will lead the INDIA bloc in the state and Puducherry, said Ajoy Kumar, All India Congress Committee in-charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

During a press conference, Ajoy Kumar exuded confidence that the alliance will win all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry combined–39 in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry–in the coming Lok Sabha election.

“DMK’s alliance with Congress is firm. We will win 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Tamil Chief Minister MK Stalin is one of the strongest leaders in the India Alliance, and he will lead the India alliance in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,” Ajoy Kumar said.

The DMK has announced the seat-sharing negotiation committee for the parliamentary elections. The seat-sharing negotiation committee of the Congress party will be announced in two days, he said.

Ajoy Kumar accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “misusing” religion for political gains.

“We have a Prime Minister who is not a Prime Minister but is trying to be a Baba. He is deceiving people by being Baba,” Kumar said.

“People of India should be very aware that whenever a politician uses God and religion for political gain, it is certain that he is deceiving the people. This is against the constitution and democratic norms,” he added.

He alleged that the central government had not provided enough funds for flood relief activities in Tamil Nadu, which suffered a lot of damage in the recent heavy rains.

“They are spending thousands of crores of rupees to build a Ram temple and start many projects but they refuse to provide funds to the flood-affected people of Tamil Nadu. The state government has been repeatedly asking for relief funds for the Tirunelveli and Chennai floods but the BJP government is not giving any response,” he said.

He said that India’s richest one percent owns 76 percent of the country’s assets, but 50 percent of the population owns less than two percent.

Stalin lashes out at BJP

Lashing out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and AIADMK, CM MK Stalin on Sunday said Edappadi Palaniswami thinks that the people have forgotten all the destructive work of AIADMK, which has “ruined” Tamil Nadu in every way for ten years adding that our duty is to stop BJP and AIADMK from coming to power.

“BJP has planned to destroy our language, Tamil Culture, state rights and tried to erase our image. On the other side, AIADMK destroyed Tamil Nadu for 10 years. Edappadi Palaniswami thought people would forget whatever they destroyed…Our duty is to stop BJP and AIADMK form coming to power,” CM Stalin said.

He further alleged that PM Modi is trying to destroy all the states saying that whichever laws are introduced by the union government, no discussion is made with state governments regarding it.

He further alleged that Prime Minister Modi is attempting to undermine the states, stating that the union government introduces laws without consulting state governments. Stalin criticized the lack of discussion with state Chief Ministers on issues such as the National Education Policy (NEP), Goods and Services Tax (GST), National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), and the erosion of state education and financial rights.

“Today’s PM was once a CM. Modi tries to destroy all the states…Whichever laws are introduced by the union government, no discussion is made with state governments regarding it. No discussion held with state Chief Ministers. NEP, GST, NEET, and state education and financial rights of states is completely taken away. States have been changed into ATMs to give money to the Union Government. Even at the time of a huge natural calamity, no help is given to us. We have asked for Rs 37,000 crores for recent cyclone devastation but till now no single rupee has been given to us,” he added.

He claimed that despite requests for Rs 37,000 crores in relief for recent cyclone devastation, no financial aid has been provided by the central government.

He further said that PM came and said they will give ( fund ), Finance Minister came and said they will give, Defence Minister came and said they will give. When our MPs met Home Minister (Amit Shah) he said he will give but till now nothing came.

Earlier in the day, All India Congress Committee in-charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Ajoy Kumar said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will lead the INDIA bloc in the state and Puducherry, said Ajoy Kumar, All India Congress Committee in-charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

During a press conference here, Ajoy Kumar exuded confidence that the alliance will win all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry combined–39 in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry–in the coming Lok Sabha election.

PM Narendra Modi was on his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu from January 20-21 where he visited several significant temples in the state. The PM will participated in a programme at Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Tiruchirappalli early morning on January 20. (ANI)

ALSO READ-13 Students Killed in School Dormitory Fire in China

Categories
India News

Stalin Urges Centre to Help Indian Fishermen Held in Lanka

The apprehended fishermen were brought to the Kankasanthurai harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further legal action…reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has called upon the central government to expedite the return of Indian fishermen recently detained in Sri Lanka. Expressing concern over the increasing incidents of attacks on fishermen, Stalin emphasized the detrimental impact on the lives and safety of these individuals.

In a letter to Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Chief Minister urged the government to instruct the Indian mission in Sri Lanka to take swift action in repatriating the apprehended fishermen along with their boats.

Recently, Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai wrote a letter to the Dr S Jaishankar, highlighting the recent incident involving the arrest of 12 Tamil fishermen from Nagapattinam by the Sri Lankan navy.

He requested Jaishankar, seeking his intervention in the repatriation of 16 fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan navy. “On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, we request the kind intervention of our Hon EAM Thiru @DrSJaishankar avl for the immediate repatriation of 12 Tamil fishermen arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy and for the release of their fishing vessel,” posted Annamalai on X.

25 Indian fishermen, who were fishing in international waters, were detained by the Sri Lankan Navy along with their two trawlers, off Point Pedro town in Sri Lanka.

According to the Sri Lankan Navy, the fishermen were allegedly involved in ‘illegal poaching’ and were detained after a special operation on Saturday night.

Twelve Tamil fishermen from Nagapattinam were reportedly captured on December 9 by the Sri Lankan navy.

“We bring to your kind attention the arrest of 12 Tamil fishermen from Nagapattinam by the Sri Lankan Navy on December 9, and their fishing boat bearing registration number IND-TN-06-MM-7675 was also apprehended. We request the kind intervention of our External Affairs Ministry for the early repatriation of the detainees and the release of their fishing boat,” Annamalai said in the letter.

The apprehended fishermen were brought to the Kankasanthurai harbour and they will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further legal action.

The relatives of the fishermen have expressed their concern about the incident and have requested both central and state governments to rescue them and their two lifeboats.

Last month, 27 Indian fishermen were released by the Sri Lankan authorities. They returned to the Chennai airport on separate days in sets of 12 and 15.

Notably, the arrests of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy has been a concerning issue for both Tamil Nadu government as well as the BJP-led central government. (with inputs from ANI)

ALSO READ-Guv vs Stalin tussle hots up in TN