Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
Credit: PTI photo
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin will on Saturday lead a 4-km-long rally here to show solidarity with the Armed Forces engaged in Operation Sindoor Pakistani terror infrastructure in Pakistan. The rally which will start at the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) at 5 pm will end at the War Memorial – both sides of the Kamaraj promenade on the Marina Beach.
“This is the time for us to express our solidarity and support to the Indian Army which is fighting valiantly against Pakistan’s continued support to terrorism,” Stalin said. He also accused Pakistan of not just harbouring terrorists, but also sending them to India to wreak havoc here.
“The rally is being held to celebrate the bravery, sacrifice and dedication of the Indian Army and to strengthen national unity,” Stalin added. He said former army personnel, ministers, public and students will be part of the rally.
Stalin’s rally comes a day after his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy held a solidarity rally in support of the Indian Army.
Meanwhile, Stalin also took stock of the situation of students from Tamil Nadu, currently studying in National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Srinagar and other universities, and asked authorities to ensure their safety.
The instructions from Stalin came after parents of 52 students from the state appealed to him to bring them back home. “Due to the fact that air services are completely suspended in Jammu and Kashmir and it is not safe to bring them by road, as soon as the situation stabilises, appropriate steps will be taken to bring the 52 students back to Tamil Nadu,” the government said.
Tamil Nadu-cadre IAS officer Aftab Rasool, a native of Kashmir, and Minorities Welfare Minister S M Naser are coordinating efforts in the region.
The state government also asked students to contact the Non-Resident Tamils Welfare Board and the Tamil Nadu Bhavan in New Delhi for assistance. The helplines are WhatsApp: 9289516712, and Landline: 011-24193300.