Stalin: DMK won’t be cowed by central raids

Madurai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday accused the BJP-led Union government of targeting DMK leaders through central agencies, asserting that the party would not be intimidated.Addressing a conference of DMK booth-level agents and functionaries from the southern zone, Stalin said the BJP government had conducted the "maximum raids" against DMK members among opposition parties to destabilise the state government. "DMK is a movement that withstood the Emergency. We will not be intimidated by the CBI, ED or IT. We are fighting for Tamil Nadu's rights, and the people stand with us," he said. Referring to the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme, Stalin said the announcement of a Rs 5,000 payout ahead of the elections had countered attempts to stall the scheme. He claimed that beneficiaries rushed to withdraw the money, fearing it might be taken back by the Union government, and alleged that while the DMK government gives to the people, the BJP-led Centre takes away from them. He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly questioning the state's free bus travel scheme for women, claiming that since the DMK assumed office, women had made 900 crore free trips under the Vidiyal Payanam scheme, saving families around Rs 800 per month. With the Prime Minister scheduled to visit Madurai on March 1, Stalin urged people to question the Centre over the absence of metro rail projects in Madurai and Coimbatore, delay in releasing the Keezhadi archaeological report, denial of NEET exemption and withholding of education funds over the state's opposition to the three-language policy. Targeting AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, Stalin alleged that he had failed to defend Tamil Nadu's rights. He asserted that the DMK would stand firm on its principles. Stalin said the party's goal was to cross the 200-seat mark in the upcoming elections and called on cadres to work tirelessly to ensure victory for DMK and its Secular Progressive Alliance partners. He framed the electoral contest as "Team Tamil Nadu vs Team Delhi." Earlier, Stalin paid floral tributes to portraits of Periyar, C N Annadurai, M Karunanidhi and K Anbazhagan. Minister P Moorthy presented a sceptre (sengol) to Stalin. Ministers I Periyasamy, K N Nehru, K K S S R Ramchandran, Palanivel Thiagarajan, Geetha Jeevan, Mano Thangaraj, Thangam Thennarasu and MPs Kanimozhi and T R Baalu were also present during the event.MSID:: 128650118 413 |