Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his recent remarks, questioning the state’s fund utilisation and accusing the DMK of diverting central scheme funds.
The Chief Minister ridiculed Shah’s accusations by invoking a famous scene from superstar Rajinikanth’s film Padayappa, where the superstar gives his shirt to a friend going to see a bride, and later jokes: “He’s the groom, but the shirt he’s wearing is mine.”
MK Stalin compared the movie scene to what he says is the situation of Tamil Nadu, and said that for centrally sponsored schemes bearing the Prime Minister’s name, the Tamil Nadu government contributes up to 50 per cent of the funds.
“In what way are we diverting funds?” Stalin asked, adding that it is, in fact, the Union government that has failed to release several promised allocations.
Speaking in Madurai, Amit Shah on June 8 accused the ruling party of large-scale corruption, failure to fulfill 90 per cent of poll promises, and allowing caste-based violence, crimes against women and children, and drug mafias to thrive. Shah alleged that the DMK diverted Rs 400 crore meant for the poor.
MK Stalin, in turn, asked what had become of the AIIMS hospital announced for Tamil Nadu nearly a decade ago. “Is AIIMS a medical hospital or a space station that it takes 10 years to construct?” he asked, challenging Shah to name a single scheme introduced specifically for Tamil Nadu in the past 11 years of BJP rule.
Stalin also took aim at Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for allegedly disrespecting Madurai by suggesting that the archaeological findings at Keezhadi be ‘corrected’. “Did the Centre appreciate Tamil Nadu for proving we had the earliest iron-age civilisation?” he asked. He said the BJP-led Centre had failed to acknowledge Tamil heritage and contributions.
Criticising the Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Stalin accused him of acting like a “puppet” and not defending the state’s interests despite BJP’s growing claims of being part of the future government in the state. “Earlier, you formed alliances only to protect your post. Did you raise any concern for the state?” he asked.
Stalin said, “Thamizhar have self-respect. We will not allow anyone from Delhi to rule us. People will support the Dravidian Model government.”