Minorities welfare always on DMK’s priority list, says Stalin

Addressing the representatives of the party in the state level discussion meeting for the minorities, Stalin said, “Whether we are in power or not, the party used to be always the supportive pillar of the minorities. When the DMK was ruling the state, various development works for the Christians and the Muslims were undertaken by the then chief minister M Karunanidhi.” He added, “The DMK has been giving importance to the minorities in both the government and the party as well.”

Strongly condemning the Centre, he said it has been planning to instigate communal clashes in Tamil Nadu. “The Edappadi K Palaniswami government has been extending a helping hand to that. They have been paying commission to retain power, but the DMK does not want to form a government in such a manner. We will come to power only through the democratic way,” Stalin stressed.

Meanwhile, Stalin said that the people of Tamil Nadu have been waiting for the DMK to form government. “Once the DMK comes to power, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and the ministers who are involved in corruption would find themselves in the prison. DMK will never conspire against any political party but will face any election democratically,” he added. Stalin appealed to the minorities to help the DMK to form the government as they always do.

While speaking in the meeting, the Coimbatore district organiser Sirajudeen said, the DMK has been giving due respect to Muslims by allotting 3.5 per cent reservation in government in which several persons get placements.

“But we are yet to get any party post,” he said. He also appealed to provide party postings to the Muslims from Coimbatore. And this received a good response among the party cadre.

Earlier, the working president visited the ailing wife of Prof Kader Moideen, Lattiba Begam and sought her blessings. She wished Stalin to become the chief minister soon.

Citing difference in rice production stats, DMK demands white paper

CHENNAI: Leader of Opposition MK Stalin has urged the state government to release a white paper on rice cultivation in the state.

Referring to media reports showing discrepancy in the claims made by the AIADMK regime in 2013-14 and 2014-15 fiscals and the Handbook of Statistics on Indian States released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Stalin said the statistics released by the ruling AIADMK have become questionable after the release of RBI report.

Stating that the RBI report has been prepared based on the inputs received from the Union Agriculture Ministry, Stalin said that going by the RBI report, the AIADMK regime had exaggerated the rice cultivation statistics by 18 and 22 lakh tons in 2013-14 and 2014-15 fiscals respectively. Recalling the statement of late J Jayalalithaa, who described then rice production as a feat, Stalin said the AIADMK regime was exaggerating and misrepresenting facts to substantiate the claims when farmers in distress were committing suicide in the Delta districts. Accusing the AIADMK regime of lying in and out of the House, Stalin, in a statement, said the state’s rights were compromised by the misrepresentation of facts in the court by the AIADMK government. Reiterating that the ruling dispensation had declined their repeated demand to release a white paper on various issues, Stalin said the people would teach a fitting lesson if the government continues to deceive people with lies.