‘Divisive politics of BJP won’t succeed in TN; Amit Shah sought to instigate communal clashes & disturb L&O’

CHENNAI: Reiterating that the divisive politics of the BJP will not succeed in Tamil Nadu, DMK deputy general secretary and Nilgiris MP A Raja on Monday said that senior BJP leader Amit Shah spoke in a manner unbecoming of the office of the Union Home Minister to instigate communal clashes and disturb the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu for political gains.

Raja also said that only the BJP was scared of Tamil Nadu, and hence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu five times for the 2024 Parliamentary polls.

Issuing a point-by-point rebuttal to the Union Home Minister a day after he trained his guns at the DMK in Madurai, A Raja said that Shah spoke in a manner not befitting the office of the Union Home Minister. "His speech at Madurai does not bode well for federalism or centre-state relations. The Union minister spoke with the intention to incite communal clashes and disturb the law and order situation of the State. The people of Tamil Nadu will not accept his speech," remarked Raja, in a hurriedly convened press conference at DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam early on Monday.

Raja also added that Chief Minister MK Stalin was implementing welfare schemes despite the Union government denying the State's rightful share of funds. Unable to tolerate this, the state BJP has brought Amit Shah to engage in such disgusting political acts, said Raja.

'TN is a haven of peace'

Reacting to a specific query on the Union Home Minister flagging law and order issues in the State, the DMK deputy general secretary said that Tamil Nadu was a haven of peace. Sarcastically wondering if the Union Home Minister was aware of the situation in Manipur, Raja said, "The Prime Minister and Home Minister, who are unable to respond to those questions, are shamelessly talking about the law and order situation of Tamil Nadu."

On Amit Shah's claim that the fund allocation to the State increased manifold during the BJP regime since 2014, Raja asked, "What is the direct tax collection during the Manmohan Singh regime and now. The direct tax collection has increased fourfold. So, whatever they claim to have allocated must be multiplied by four."

Asked about the BJP claim that the Dravidian party was scared of Shah, a witty DMK deputy general secretary said, "All kinds of communal campaign and divisive politics unleashed by them have failed in TN. We are only amused to see them. The PM visited Tamil Nadu five times for the 2024 Parliamentary polls. Probably, he will visit the Tirupur municipal corporation polls. Have you ever witnessed it anywhere or at any time in independent India? We are not scared of any Shah. We are quite firm that the political ideology behind Modi and Shah must not take shape in Tamil Nadu."

Specifically asked about the "KK Shah" reference of the BJP leaders, the DMK deputy general secretary said, "We are not bothered about any Shah. We didn't yield to that Shah then (referring to KK Shah’s offer to extend the DMK tenure by two years if it accepted the emergency). We dared him to dissolve our government."

‘This is not Maha or Delhi; this is TN’

On the BJP planning to replicate the victory elsewhere in TN in 2026, he said, "This is not Maharashtra or Delhi. This is Tamil Nadu. As long as the DMK remains, it will not allow communal politics to gain roots in Tamil Nadu." Raja also added that the Union Home Minister must visit Tamil Nadu more frequently because the more he visits, the higher the DMK votes soar. Raja also added, "Our Chief Minister will defeat any alliance you forge."

‘Murugan Conf to instigate communal clashes’

Responding to saffron groups organising the Lord Murugan conference in Thiruparankundram, the DMK deputy general secretary recalled the successful Muthamizh Murugan International Conference organised by the state HR&CE Department earlier and said, "They are organising the conclave to divide people and instigate communal riots and gain politically from it. People of Madurai have rejected it."

When reporters drew his attention to Amit Shah's claims about the BJP regime's contribution to Tamil, Raja said, "If they claim to do so much for Tamil, why are they not accepting the Keezhadi report. If the report is deficient, you may point out the deficiencies or errors. But why did they transfer Amarnath Ramakrishnan thrice? They don't want to publish the Keezhadi report. The People of Tamil Nadu will teach them a lesson."