Political black comedy at its darkest: Stalin on Yogi's accusations on language issue

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday lambasted his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath for his comments that the former was trying to create divisions based on region and language due to the fear of losing his vote bank, saying the state was waging a battle for dignity and justice and this “isn’t riot-for-votes politics.”

In a social media post, Stalin said Tamil Nadu’s fair and firm voice on two- language policy and fair delimitation is echoing nationwide and the BJP is clearly rattled.

“Just watch their leaders’ interviews. And now Hon’ble Yogi Adityanath wants to lecture us on hate? Spare us. This isn’t irony—it’s political black comedy at its darkest,” Stalin said, quoting an interview by Adityanath to a news agency.

In the interview, Adityanath accused Stalin of creating divisions on the lines of language and region after feeling that his vote bank was at risk. The BJP has been alleging that the DMK was trying to create divisions within the country through false allegations that the Union Government was imposing Hindi.

“We don’t oppose any language; we oppose imposition and chauvinism. This isn’t riot-for-votes politics. This is a battle for dignity and justice,” the Chief Minister said.

Reacting to Stalin’s statement, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai called the Chief Minister a con artist masquerading as a protector of our constitution and federal structure.

“The whole country now knows that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu’s family owns private schools that teach three languages and more but opposes the same policy for the state's Government school students. They are calling you a hypocrite, Stalin,” he said.