Don’t Make Us Revive Demand For ‘Separate’ Tamil Nadu: A Raja At DMK Event

DMK MP A. Raja challenged the Central government and threatened the revival of demand for a “separate Tamil Nadu” in a recent speech. During a local event in Namakkal, he said, “I urge the Centre to grant us autonomy…We shall not stop our fight until Tamil Nadu gets state autonomy.”

Raja said that it was ‘Periyar’ who first advocated separating Tamil Nadu from India, but they kept the demand aside for the sake of democracy and unity of India. He added, “I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to force us to revive the demand. Please give us state autonomy.”

He was sharing the stage with the CM of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, who did not interject or call out the DMK leader.

BJP Chief, K. Annamalai, reacting to the outrageous statement, tweeted that: “Falling popularity after failing promises, CM of Tamil Nadu should invent a better excuse for not delivering instead of pushing their defunct propaganda.” Annamalai said that ex-cabinet ministers of DMK are facing trial for corruption charges and making vile threats is a display of desperation.

The DMK government, since coming to power, has been in news for multiple controversies, including state overreach on Hindu culture and customs; rolling out a red-carpet welcome for one of the conspirators out on bail in former PM, Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination; corruption within the government, among others.