MK Stalin Hits Out At PM Modi Over Uniform Civil Code

DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for seeking to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

Referring to PM Modi's remarks on the UCC, Mr Stalin blamed him for attempting to completely "disrupt the law and order situation" and cause "religious violence".

"Our PM Modi says that there should not be two types of laws in a country," the chief minister said, adding that the Prime Minister was thinking of winning the 2024 Lok Sabha polls by fanning communal sentiments and creating confusion in the country.

"I am telling you categorically, people are ready to teach a fitting lesson to the BJP in the upcoming LS polls; you (people) should be prepared and be resolute (to trounce the BJP at the hustings)," he said.

The recent meeting of Opposition leaders in Patna to defeat the BJP in the LS polls has caused fear to PM Modi, the chief minister said. 

Mr Stalin hit out at PM Modi for not visiting strife-torn Manipur, which is ruled by the BJP. "Manipur is burning for the past 50 days and 150 people have so far been killed. Thousands have fled the state. So far, the PM has not visited the state. Amit Shah held an all-party meeting only after 50 days," he said.

Recalling his incarceration during the Emergency (1975-77), he said, "This is history, many people do not understand this history; when even Prime Minister Modi does not know it, what could I say?" 

In sync with DMK tradition, Mr Stalin described his party as a 'family,' and hit back at the BJP for hurling the accusation of family politics. The chief minister said PM Modi has accused "us of doing family politics, true, this is family politics; DMK is comprised of families and I am thanking him for mentioning that". 

Mr Stalin said party founder CN Annadurai addressed cadres as 'Thambi' (younger brother) and late party patriarch M Karunanidhi addressed party workers and the people as 'Udanpirappe' (brothers/sisters). 

"Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) used to invite cadres to take part with their families in party conferences and demonstrations and this was the practice of the Dravidian movement. Such was the DMK's tradition of bonding as a family and hence this is as such family politics," he said. 

Mr Stalin said PM Modi had made a mention that a vote for DMK would only lead to the growth of Karunanidhi's family. "Yes, Karunanidhi's family is Tamil Nadu and the Tamil people... My appeal is that the PM should talk after evaluating the growth Tamil Nadu has attained in the past 50 years, " he said. 

The DMK chief said Karunanidhi (1924-2018) was the architect of modern Tamil Nadu and his birth centenary (2023-24) was being celebrated now. Underscoring the late leader's list of achievements, he said the incumbent DMK regime was following in Karunanidhi's footsteps and had provided the social justice-led Dravidian model of good governance to people. 

"This is your government (TN state government), this is the Dravidian model of governance," he said and reiterated that all assurances made to the people by the DMK ahead of the 2021 Assembly election were being fulfilled.

People voted DMK to power in the state in 2021 and, similarly, they should get ready to usher in a regime at the Centre in 2024 that would be secular and one that provided due rights to the states, the chief minister said. 

Mr Stalin made the remarks in his address here while presiding over the wedding of the grand-daughter of a veteran party office-bearer. The wedding took place at an auditorium on the premises of the DMK headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam'. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)