Will wage ideological battle against BJP, vows Oppn Leader

Accepting the request of his allies to issue a clarion call against the ruling right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin declared that the DMK would prove its mettle when the Parliament convenes. 

“Some people who envy the resounding victory of the DMK say, it would be of no avail. They wonder what will we (DMK MPs) do without being in power at the Centre? Should the members of the ruling party alone win? Should ruling party members be alone in Parliament? Is this not against the principle of democracy?” Stalin wondered, adding, “We will prove our mettle when the Parliament is convened.”

The DMK president also reaffirmed his allegiance to the secular principles at the rally organised by the party to thank voters for giving them an overwhelming mandate and said, “MPs of DMK and allies have a major responsibly ahead. You have more responsibility from now. You must fight not only for Tamil Nadu but also for the rights of the country.”

“We will fight for safeguarding secularism, socialism to flourish, uplift the oppressed, alleviate the fear of minorities. You have the responsibility to do that,” Stalin proclaimed.  “We will fight for federalism, retrieve Katchatheevu, abolish death penalty, lower fuel and cable prices, prevent Mekedatu Dam construction and bring education to state list and waive education loans,” he added. 

Stalin also advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to introspect as to why his party had suffered defeat in Tamil Nadu, before cautioning that whoever acts against the interest of Tamils would suffer the same. 

Earlier, making an appeal to Stalin, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said, “Just when the right wingers thought the last pillar of Periyarism has fallen, Stalin has come not as Udhayasoorian (Rising sun), but as pudhiya sooriyan (new sun).” Stating that DMK and Stalin have the challenge of opposing the Hindutva forces, he said, “No other party has understood the danger shrouding the country. I don’t see it in any other state. We are under compulsion to fight on Karunanidhi’s way. If DMK will become a sword, allies are ready to become shields. We are ready to follow your leadership. Show us the way ahead.” 

Joining the issue, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan said, “We should continue to fight together. Not only for elections, we should fight for state’s rights. This alliance should continue to fight for the state’s rights.”

CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan said the victory of Modi was not permanent and Secular Progressive Alliance should work beyond Tamil Nadu borders. MDMK general secretary Vaiko said, “We have burnt the Constitution in Anna’s times. We have set ourselves ablaze, we are ready to burn Kasturirangan Committee report now,” asking Stalin to set the date for the protest.

New Delhi: The Congress paid tributes on Monday to former chief minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi on his birth anniversary, with party chief Rahul Gandhi saying the memory of the veteran leader could never fade away. “Remembering Kalaignar Karunanidhi on his birth anniversary. A true leader of the glorious Tamil people, whose memory will never fade away,” Gandhi said in a tweet. The Congress party described Karunanidhi as a stalwart of the Dravidian movement. “Karunanidhi was a prolific writer who went on to become the longest serving chief minister of Tamil Nadu. He was a stalwart of the Dravidian movement and a true representative of the Tamil people. We remember his contributions on his birth anniversary,” the party said on its official Twitter handle.

Chennai: Opposition parties in the state led by DMK president MK Stalin have vowed to fight the tri-lingual policy proposed by the BJP led Centre. While dubbing the policy revision by the Centre as a victory to the secular forces, the principal opposition party on Monday cautioned the BJP-led Centre not to taunt the state. “Withdrawal of compulsory Hindi learning shows that Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) is still alive,” DMK president Stalin tweeted, after the Centre made public its revised policy relaxing the condition that non-Hindi states need not learn Hindi as third language. Earlier, a meeting of DMK district secretaries, MPs and MLAs chaired by Stalin resolved to fight the tri-lingual policy tooth and nail in Parliament.