‘Do not turn a calm South into a storm’: Stalin’s counsel to Modi on Delimitation

Sounding a warning over the impending delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin described it as a dangerous move that would place the rights of the southern states at the stake and asked whether the country is sliding into a dictatorship.

“Why is the BJP government at the Centre shrouding the entire delimitation process in secrecy instead of coming clean on how it intends to carry out the process? Is the country sliding into dictatorship,” Stalin asked in a social media post with a warning “Do not turn a calm South into a storm”.

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In poll-bound Tamil Nadu, delimitation has come in handy for the DMK under Stalin, who is determined to break the consecutive second term, to corner the BJP and the AIADMK. From denial of Metro Rail Projects to the state and the yet to come up AIIMS hospital in Madurai and withholding of funds for school education as well as Hindi imposition, Stalin and the allies of the DMK are leaving no stone unturned to paint the NDA black.

Demanding answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the questions raised by the people of the South, he questioned the “tearing hurry to convene a special session of Parliament right in the middle of five state elections.” The Chief Minister, also DMK president, further asked as to why the Union government is brushing aside the fair and reasoned demand of Opposition leaders to hold the special session after April 29. “What is it trying to hide?” was his poser to Modi.

“Forcing through far-reaching constitutional amendments without even convening an all-party meeting is nothing short of dictatorship,” he said, asserting, “The DMK will not stand by and watch any attempt that places the rights of the southern state at stake while handing greater power to the North. Any decision taken without our consent, without engaging us, will not be accepted, come what may. The South demands #FairDelimitation!”

He drew attention to former prime minister Vajpayee deferring delimitation for 25 years, keeping in mind national interest and asked “What is Prime Minister Modi’s answer to the just and reasonable demand of southern states to follow the same path today?” Making it clear that the issue involved the future of the people who live here, Stalin further demanded an answer from the people since the Modi government is not responding to the questions raised by the Opposition and the media.

Earlier, Congress veteran and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram had slammed the Modi government for attempting to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats and termed it as retrograde. He also pointed out that this would be a punishment for the Southern States, who have efficiently implemented population control.