Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (File photo)
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin escalated on Tuesday his attack on BJP, signalling statewide protests if Centre pushes ahead with delimitation and invoking DMK’s anti-Hindi agitations of the 1950s and 1960s.In a video message on X, Stalin said the state would “come to a standstill” if the Union got introduced a bill in the April 16-18 special Parliament session to raise Lok Sabha strength from 543 to 850. “Do not assume that you can quietly carry out delimitation in Delhi since this is an election period and our attention is elsewhere. Don’t even entertain that thought,” he said.
The DMK president said protests would be unprecedented. “You will witness a Tamil Nadu that you have not seen before. India will once again witness the DMK of the 1950s and 1960s.”He warned that any move seen as harming Tamil Nadu or boosting political weight of northern states would draw a sweeping backlash. “If anything is done that harms Tamil Nadu, or that disproportionately enhances the political power of northern states, we in Tamil Nadu will not remain silent. Tamil Nadu will come to a standstill. Every family will take to the streets. Under my leadership, we will organise massive agitations.“Questioning urgency of the special session, Stalin alleged an attempt to “bulldoze” a constitutional amendment. “It is being forcibly convened in the midst of elections in Tamil Nadu and Bengal,” he said, adding that lack of clarity over the process deepened suspicion. “No explanation has been provided so far regarding the proposed Constitutional amendment. When such secrecy surrounds this process, it only strengthens the suspicion that a grave danger lies beneath. The people of the southern states are gripped with deep concern.”He said DMK MPs would attend the session despite campaign commitments. “Even amidst the relentless pace of election campaigning, this duty important cannot be set aside.”From Telangana, CM Revanth Reddy called for southern unity against the proposed exercise. “We have to unite against this onslaught on political rights and protect our voice in Delhi. Together let us march,” he said in a letter to Stalin, recalling last year’s Chennai conclave of southern politicians.
