Chennai, Jan 26 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has issued a strong condemnation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA, asserting that the so-called “double-engine government” has failed to ensure the safety of its citizens amidst ongoing violence in Manipur.

During his address at the Vellam Tamil Women’s Delta Zone Conference, organized by the DMK Women’s Wing in Chengipatti, Thanjavur district, Stalin highlighted alarming statistics indicating that over 260 lives have been lost since violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023.

Stalin remarked, “Despite ruling at both the Centre and in Manipur, this double-engine government has failed to protect the populace. It seems the Prime Minister has turned a blind eye to these issues.”

The conference, which gathered approximately 125,000 DMK volunteers from 15 districts across the Cauvery delta, saw Stalin emphasizing the historical significance of Thanjavur as a bastion of the Dravidian movement while reaffirming its ideological roots.

He stated, “The Dravidian movement stands for dismantling caste dominance and relentlessly promoting social justice.”

Recalling historical narratives, he praised social reformer Periyar for advocating rights for marginalized groups, including women and Shudras. He also noted key milestones such as women gaining voting rights during the Justice Party era, the introduction of the Self-Respect Marriage Act by C. N. Annadurai, and the implementation of equal inheritance rights for women by M. Karunanidhi.

Shifting to national matters, Stalin accused PM Modi of disseminating false information during his recent visit to Tamil Nadu, saying, “While he travels globally, he only returns to India during election seasons. I posed various inquiries, yet he chose to recycle old narratives instead of addressing them.”

He criticized the Prime Minister for avoiding discussions on violence against women in BJP-governed states while targeting Tamil Nadu instead, asserting, “In front of thousands of women, I confidently declare that Tamil Nadu is the safest state for women in India.”

Stalin further referenced reports concerning drug trafficking linked to BJP-administered states like Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, questioning whether the Prime Minister had taken notice.

Mocking the reestablishment of the NDA alliance, he remarked on its partners being embroiled in cases involving central agencies, humorously asking if the “washing machine” of investigations would cleanse them all.

In conclusion, Stalin framed the upcoming election as a contest not between NDA and the Secular Progressive Alliance, but rather as NDA versus Tamil Nadu. He expressed his trust in the people of Tamil Nadu to make the right decision.