Tamil Nadu CM Stalin leads protest against delimitation bill

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin burnt a copy of the delimitation bill and called it a black law, alleging it would harm the state’s political representation, as protests by DMK and allies spread across Tamil Nadu

Chennai/Namakkal: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday burnt a copy of the delimitation bill and dubbed it a “black law”, alleging it seeks to make the Tamil people “refugees” in their own land.

Stalin hoisted a black flag and burnt a copy of the bill on delimitation circulated by the Union government and raised slogans condemning the move, hours before Parliament was to sit for a special session.

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The CM burnt a copy of the bill at Namakkal in western Tamil Nadu, where he is camping in connection with electioneering.

“Poradavom, Velvom ondraga” (Let us struggle, win together) was among the slogans raised by Stalin and others clad in black.

After Stalin burnt a copy of the bill, party leaders, office-bearers and elected representatives burnt copies of the bill in their respective regions. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, amid his poll campaign, burnt a copy in Madurai.

The Deputy Chief Minister alleged that delimitation was a weapon in the hands of the Centre to cut off the state’s political representation.

Hitting out at the Union government for “continuously betraying” Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi alleged that the Centre was trying to implement whatever it wished with the support of some northern states.

He alleged that the Centre wanted to cut down the representation of southern states in Parliament.

“The soil of Tamil Nadu, noted for its self-respect, will never bow before the BJP’s arrogance… let the fire seeking rights lit by the party chief spread across India,” the Deputy CM said in a statement.

At DMK state headquarters Anna Arivalayam, under the leadership of party leaders RS Bharathi and TKS Elangovan, party workers clad in black burnt copies of the delimitation bill.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief K Selvaperunthagai held a black flag demonstration in Salem and condemned the Centre over delimitation.

Dravidar Kazhagam chief K Veeramani hoisted a black flag and set a copy of the bill on fire.

DK is the ideological parent outfit of Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK. Both the CPI and CPI (M), allies of the DMK, also joined the protest by hoisting black flags to mark their opposition to the delimitation exercise.

In a statement, Stalin said: “Let the flames of resistance spread across Tamil Nadu. Let the arrogance of the fascist BJP be brought down. Then, the fire of resistance against Hindi imposition that rose from Tamil Nadu scorched Delhi. It quietened only after Delhi was forced to yield.” He was apparently referring to the anti-Hindi agitation in the 1960s in the state.

“Today, I have reignited that fire by burning the copy of this black law and hoisting the black flag against this black law that seeks to turn Tamils into refugees in our own land. This fire will now spread across the Dravidian land. It will rise, it will rage, and it will bring the BJP’s arrogance to its knees,” he added.

As soon as Stalin unfurled the black flag, his party office-bearers, ministers and cadres hoisted black flags in their respective homes, party offices and public spaces across Tamil Nadu.

Besides the DMK’s state headquarters ‘Anna Arivalayam’ in Chennai, black flags were hoisted in prominent spots on the Chennai premises of Kamal Haasan-led Makkal Needhi Maiam and Vaiko-led MDMK, allies of the DMK.

A black flag was also spotted at the Chennai-Gopalapuram residence of late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.

Black flags were hoisted at the residence of the Chief Minister in Chennai and also in the homes of his Cabinet colleagues.

On Wednesday, while staunchly opposing the Centre’s proposed delimitation, Stalin had called for a black flag protest across the state, alleging that the BJP-led NDA’s move would harm Tamil Nadu’s interests.