Views expressed by allies are 'advice', not 'confrontation': Stalin

Chennai: Amid differences between the ruling DMK and its allies on a host of issues, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said he considers the “views” of alliance partners as “advice” and not as “confrontation”, while asserting that their “friendly ties” remain unaffected. 

Answering questions as part of the Ungalil Oruvan (One Amongst You) programme, Stalin also utilised the opportunity to take a dig at the principal opposition party, AIADMK, terming its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami as merely an “echo” of the BJP and accusing the two parties of having a “secret relationship.”

Stalin also launched a frontal attack on the BJP by accusing it of “ignoring” Tamil Nadu’s interest by even omitting the state’s name in the Budget speeches of the Union Finance Minister, even as the Union Government continues to praise various programmes implemented by the DMK dispensation.

“I view the views of alliance parties as advice, not as confrontation or contradiction. Differences of opinion are quite common at our homes, and workplaces and expressing one’s opinion reflects the democratic nature of the relationship. We have been together as one political front since 2019,” Stalin said.

“We have been showing the country how to defeat the BJP by being united as one alliance. There is no problem in our friendly ties,” Stalin added. He was responding to a question on the views expressed by alliance partners on various issues – CPI(M) has had a different view on the way the government handled the issue of strike by employees at Samsung factory and the VCK differed with the DMK on many issues.

To a question on Palaniswami’s remarks that the Delhi election results is a death knell for the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, Stalin said the former Chief Minister’s statements are almost like the ones issued by the BJP. “His voice is a dubbing for the BJP. Through such remarks, Palaniswami continues to prove that the AIADMK and BJP were in a secret relationship. Before speaking about us, Palaniswami should ponder over his electoral defeats,” Stalin added.

Referring to Piyush Goyal’s statement that states demanding funds as per their tax contribution is 'petty thinking’, Stalin said such incidents make us ask whether those at the Union Government have conscience. “We have been implementing many schemes from state funds but we can implement them better and devise more schemes if we get support from the Union Government. But they don’t listen to us,” he said.

On Manipur, Stalin said the BJP government has enforced President’s Rule in Manipur only as a last resort after 220 lives were lost in the ethnic strife between two communities in the north-eastern state. “Be it Manipur or Uttar Pradesh, BJP-ruled states are the same in maintaining law and order, but they impart lessons to others on the matter,” Stalin added.