Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin (IANS)
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Friday accused the BJP of attempting to sow religious divisions in the state, claiming that the communal harmony in Tamil Nadu “irritates” the party. Addressing a government function, he said, “People of Tamil Nadu are, however, very cautious. The devotees of Lord Muruga bow to the Thirupparankundram Dargah flag. Muslim brothers offer rose milk to Hindus during Madurai Chittirai festival.”Stalin slammed the BJP over alleged attacks targeting Christians and their places of worship, asserting that the party wanted to replicate such incidents in Tamil Nadu. “No matter how many slaves they gather and perform somersaults, they cannot incite religious frenzy among the people of Tamil Nadu who are united,” he said.“As long as this Stalin is here, as long as our Dravidian Model government is here, there is no room for your politics of religious hatred here,” he added.Comparing his government with the previous AIADMK regime, Stalin said Tamil Nadu faced ruin during AIADMK’s 10-year rule from 2011 to 2021. “This is my open challenge! Tell me if you have courage, did you achieve at least 5 per cent of what we have achieved?” he said, highlighting the state’s progress under DMK leadership. The DMK has previously used the term “slave” to criticise the AIADMK for its alignment with the BJP and has recently applied the same term to the fledgling TVK.Stalin, also DMK President, expressed confidence that the party would be re-elected in the 2026 Assembly polls. “The crowning glory of the Dravidian model government’s achievements will be the people’s verdict in the 2026 Assembly election and that will be your (political rivals) reality check. If what I said about Tamil Nadu’s achievements represents a developed, prosperous India, then there is another India in BJP‑ruled states; it is an India of poverty, religious violence, mob lynchings, attempts to ruin education, and unemployment…this is BJP’s India,” he alleged.
