DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Saturday claimed that the southern States had seemingly come together in favour of a ‘Dravida Nadu’ since they had been completely ignored by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
His comments follow his press conference in Erode a day earlier, when he touched on the topic.
Mr. Stalin, however, clarified that he had merely responded to a query on the demand for a ‘Dravida Nadu’, whereas the media had created the impression that he had propagated the idea himself.
“All I said in Erode was that if such a situation emerged, we would support it. As far as Dravida Nadu was concerned, Anna [former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai] gave up the idea, but also made it clear that the reasons for [the demand] for its creation were very much there. Anna has been proved right, especially now that we see how the southern States are being ignored by the BJP government,” he said.
When asked why the ruling AIADMK was silent even after he announced that the DMK MLAs were ready to resign to bring pressure to bear on the Centre to create the Cauvery Management Board, Mr. Stalin said the government ought to take the issue to the next level, adding, “But it is not interested in doing anything [about this] and the DMK will continue to fight for it [the Cauvery Management Board].”
On meeting PM
Mr. Stalin said it was unlikely that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would agree to meet a DMK delegation to discuss the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, given that he had refused to give an appointment to an all-party delegation earlier.
“I sought an appointment with Mr. Modi to raise the farmers’ issues and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. But I could not get [it]. When the Chief Minister of a State is unable to meet the Prime Minister, how do you expect the Opposition parties to get an appointment with him?” he asked.
Mr. Stalin said the AIADMK, which had a substantial presence in the Rajya Sabha, should support the no-confidence motion to be moved by the Telugu Desam Party so as to step up pressure on the Centre over the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board.
“Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami should support the motion if he has the courage and commitment [towards the cause],” the DMK leader said.
