No force can destroy unity in DMK-led alliance: Stalin

DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said on Sunday that political opponents hoping to break the unity in the DMK-led alliance have failed. He asserted that no power could divide the brotherhood between the Allies.

Addressing the farewell ceremony of the Communist Party of India’s (CPI) centenary celebrations in Chennai, Mr. Stalin said, “This is not an electoral alliance based on numbers, but an alliance built on common beliefs. This is an alliance formed with the aim of keeping India and Tamil Nadu high.”

“The friendship between us goes beyond electoral politics. We stand together as democratic forces against casteism, classism and majoritarianism. It is this friendship that will defeat fascism, autocracy, communalism and dictatorship,” he said.

Smashing the BJP, Mr. Stalin said its “tentacles” were destroying everything. “The BJP-led Union government is destroying the ideals that the country has protected. It is destroying the ideals in the Constitution to suit its own interests. It is trying to weaken the ideal of ‘Unity in Diversity’ and shift the country towards a unitary model.”

‘Parochial’

Asserting that the BJP was dangerous, narrow-minded and against the multidimensional nature of the country, Mr. Stalin said he believed that States should not have any power. “BJP hates the ideas of secularism, socialism, equality before law, social justice and communism. It wants to eliminate these not only from its administration but also from the dictionary. Our country is facing a major crisis,” he said.

“The situation would have been worse” if the BJP had won 370-400 seats as it wanted in the Lok Sabha elections, he said.

“All the democratic forces in the country formed the INDIA bloc and checked the pace of the BJP. Even if there is no majority, the BJP is using its sharp nails to harm democracy. We need to remain alert and careful in this scenario,” he said.

He reiterated that the upcoming Assembly elections will be held between Tamil Nadu and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). “BJP is riding on the backs of its minions who betrayed Tamil, Tamil community and Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Mr. Stalin asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not mention the AIADMK during the last election campaign. “Because AIADMK is not an individual party but a wing of the BJP. [AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K.] Palaniswami of this wing is set to give assurance. [Mr.] Modi failed!” Mr. Stalin said.

Mr. Stalin added that the BJP ignored Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget only because it was confident of losing the Assembly elections.

Mr. Stalin said the alliance parties must remain together for the development of the country.

‘The target is the same’

Pointing to the equal share of red color in the DMK flag, Mr. Stalin said: “There may be slight differences in our principles and political perspectives, but the aim of the Dravidian and Communist movements is the same, which is to have an egalitarian society.”

He also recalled late leader and former Prime Minister M. Karunanidhi’s words that he would have become a communist had it not been for the Dravidian movement.

Additionally, the Prime Minister said that he will unveil the statue of political economist Karl Marx at the Connemara Public Library campus in Chennai on February 6.