DMK executive panel condemns Union Minister Amit Shah, slams BJP for bid to ‘divert attention’

Chennai, Dec 22 (PTI) DMK’s executive committee meeting, chaired by party president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin here on Sunday strongly condemned Union Home Minister Amit Shah, for “defaming” Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Shah besmirched the sacrifices of Dr Ambedkar, which was “unacceptable” and a “blot” on Parliamentary democracy under the BJP regime, the Dravidian party alleged in a resolution.

In order to divert attention from the minister’s remarks, the “dramas” enacted by the BJP, inside and outside of Parliament was a mockery, the party said and lauded party office-bearers and cadres for the state-wide protests and MPs for opposing the minister in both Houses of Parliament.

While CM Stalin, following his Erode visit days ago had said that his party will win over 200 seats in the 2026 Assembly polls, the DMK urged its cadres to start working at once for winning more than 200 seats out of the 234 Assembly constituencies.

Also, the DMK demanded that the Centre take steps for the immediate release of Tamil Nadu fishermen and their boats from Sri Lanka. The union government was also urged to find a permanent solution to the fishermen’s issue and take steps for retrieving Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka.

On cyclone Fengal relief, the DMK said the Centre’s disaster relief fund was not ‘BJP’s party fund’ and it must allocate funds sought by the state government. The state had sought Rs 6,675 crore and Rs 2,000 crore for permanent restoration and urgent requirements respectively. However, the Centre released only Rs 944.80 crore, which was the usual, pending State Disaster Relief Fund, the party said.

The party urged the Centre to drop the ‘One Nation One Election’ proposal and condemned it over the tungsten mining issue. Also, the party targeted the AIADMK for ‘supporting’ a Bill in 2023 to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 in Parliament which facilitated grant of tungsten mining rights by the Centre.

Another resolution hit out at the Centre for its ‘partiality’ and ‘betrayal’ of Tamil Nadu by not releasing funds under the Samagra Shiksha scheme.