Stalin: My visit to Delhi not to take orders from Centre, but to get schemes benefitting the people of Tamil Nadu approved.
Published Aug 16, 2022 | 11:58 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2022 | 12:31 PM
"DMK is committed to its ideology: Chief Minister MK Stalin said during the 60th birthday celebrations of VCK chief Thirumavalavan. (Supplied)
Just hours before leaving for New Delhi for his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin reaffirmed his party’s commitment to its ideology, and declared that there was no chance of even the slightest ideological compromise with the BJP.
Stalin was addressing an event organised to celebrate the 60th birthday of VCK chief and MP Thol Thirumavalavan in Chennai on Tuesday, 16 August.
“There is no chance of the DMK striking even the slightest compromise with the BJP,” Stalin declared, allaying the fears of Thirumavalavan that even small compromises with the BJP would weaken the Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu, of which both DMK and VCK are a part.
On his visit to Delhi, Stalin said he was going to the national capital not to take orders, but rather to get schemes needed by the people of Tamil Nadu approved by the Union government.
“Am I going to Delhi for holding the Kavadi (a ritual art in South India)? Am I going to Delhi to get instructions with my hands crossed and mouth shut? No, I am the son of Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi), Stalin thundered, to massive cheering and a standing ovation from the audience.
He also reminded the people that the ties between the state and the Union government should not be misconstrued as a relationship between the DMK and the BJP.
“There is no connection between the ideologies of the DMK and BJP… At any time and in any situation, I, Stalin, will not give up on the DMK’s ideology,” he added.
Stalin’s comments come at a time when there is much speculation, especially on social media, on whether the DMK was, of late, moving closer to the BJP.
Talk of the DMK softening its stand towards the BJP began with the inaugural ceremony of the 44th Chess Olympiad, where Stalin and Modi displayed rare bonhomie, in sharp contrast to the coldness of the last time they shared a stage in Chennai.
A tweet from Modi congratulating the DMK government for being excellent hosts of the Chess Olympiad, and Stalin attending the ‘At Home’ hosted by Governor RN Ravi on Independence Day after boycotting it the last one in April, further fueled the speculation.
The remarks made by Stalin — reassuring people of his party’s commitment to its founding principles — are being seen by many as an attempt by him to put a stop to conjectures about a possible tie-up between the DMK and the BJP ahead of the 2024 general elections.
On his visit to Delhi, Stalin will call on Prime Minister Modi on 17 August. Apart from taking up key issues concerning Tamil Nadu during the meeting, Stalin is also expected to personally thank the prime minister for his participation in the inaugural ceremony of the recently held Chess Olympiad.
Stalin will also pay courtesy visits to President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar to congratulate them on assuming their respective offices.
