Quite disappointing
‘…he is hell-bent on revoking them’: In podcast, TN CM Stalin slams PM Modi over state rights
Following his continuous criticism of the Union government and Governor R N Ravi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has now accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of dramatically changing his stance on state rights.
In the latest episode of his podcast series ‘Speaking for India’, Stalin highlighted the clear contrast between Modi’s positions as the Gujarat chief minister and his subsequent policies as the Prime Minister, alleging that Modi’s current objective might be leaning towards curtailing state rights, and even possibly, abolishing states in India.
Stalin began the episode by referring to a recent headline that followed his second episode, where he highlighted seven mega scams of the BJP, as identified in a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report. In what Stalin hints might be a reactionary move, several CAG officers who were part of the expose were transferred en masse shortly after.
Painting a vivid picture of India’s federal fabric, describing it as a “magnificent garden full of various beautiful flowers”, he stressed how India’s diverse cultures, languages, and religions thrive under a federal structure. Recalling Modi’s tenure as Gujarat’s chief minister, Stalin underscored the Prime Minister’s erstwhile vocal support for state rights. In stark contrast, Stalin pointed out, the current Union government under PM Modi seems inclined to centralise powers.
Recalling that Modi, as the then CM of Gujarat “spoke a lot in favour of state rights”, Stalin accused that “he did not even like the first line of the Constitution, which goes, ‘India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States!’ after becoming the Prime Minister of India”.
“As a Chief Minister, he spoke about state rights; now as a Prime Minister, he is hell-bent on revoking them! The BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is of the opinion that the states should be abolished, if not, they should at least be reduced into mere municipalities,” Stalin said.
This attempt to centralise power to rule the country, according to Stalin, is evident in multiple policy decisions taken by the Modi-led government, including the decision to replace the planning committee, a platform where state chief ministers could actively participate and voice their opinions, with the Niti Aayog, “which does not really serve any purpose”.
He also touched upon the financial strain states have been under due to the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax. Tamil Nadu, Stalin said, has suffered significant financial setbacks, with substantial fiscal deficits mounting every year. This economic pinch, however, is not unique to Tamil Nadu, as Stalin claims that many states are facing similar challenges. He expressed concerns over the alleged retaliatory tactics of the BJP-led government against Opposition-run states, including attempts to buy out MLAs from Opposition parties to destabilise state governments.
One of the more contentious points raised by Stalin was the introduction of the National Education Policy. He warned that such policies could potentially erase the unique cultural and educational identity of states, hinting at an overarching central directive that overlooks state-specific needs. Evoking the DMK’s strong advocacy for “state autonomy”, Stalin brought forth historical references, invoking leaders like former chief ministers C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi, who championed a federal system with robust state autonomy.
Stalin also appealed to listeners to fight for the protection of state rights and reminded the significance of the results of the upcoming state Assembly elections, calling them “mini Parliament elections.”
“I take the liberty of asking those of you, who have listened to this podcast, to hand over India in the hands of the INDIA alliance. Let us save the states, let us save India, let us make the INDIA alliance win,” he said.
Stalin launched his podcast series ‘Speaking for India’ in September, similar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann ki Baat, appealing to the audience to “prepare to hear this voice from South India”. The podcast is being streamed on platforms such as YouTube and Spotify, in Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.
Arun Janardhanan – 2023-10-31 12:53