Latest news with #Padayappa
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Groom is theirs, but shirt is ours: MK Stalin's Rajinikanth movie jab at Amit Shah
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his recent remarks, questioning the state's fund utilisation and accusing the DMK of diverting central scheme Chief Minister ridiculed Shah's accusations by invoking a famous scene from superstar Rajinikanth's film Padayappa, where the superstar gives his shirt to a friend going to see a bride, and later jokes: 'He's the groom, but the shirt he's wearing is mine.'advertisementMK Stalin compared the movie scene to what he says is the situation of Tamil Nadu, and said that for centrally sponsored schemes bearing the Prime Minister's name, the Tamil Nadu government contributes up to 50 per cent of the funds. 'In what way are we diverting funds?' Stalin asked, adding that it is, in fact, the Union government that has failed to release several promised in Madurai, Amit Shah on June 8 accused the ruling party of large-scale corruption, failure to fulfill 90 per cent of poll promises, and allowing caste-based violence, crimes against women and children, and drug mafias to thrive. Shah alleged that the DMK diverted Rs 400 crore meant for the Stalin, in turn, asked what had become of the AIIMS hospital announced for Tamil Nadu nearly a decade ago. 'Is AIIMS a medical hospital or a space station that it takes 10 years to construct?' he asked, challenging Shah to name a single scheme introduced specifically for Tamil Nadu in the past 11 years of BJP also took aim at Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for allegedly disrespecting Madurai by suggesting that the archaeological findings at Keezhadi be 'corrected'. 'Did the Centre appreciate Tamil Nadu for proving we had the earliest iron-age civilisation?' he asked. He said the BJP-led Centre had failed to acknowledge Tamil heritage and the Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Stalin accused him of acting like a 'puppet' and not defending the state's interests despite BJP's growing claims of being part of the future government in the state. 'Earlier, you formed alliances only to protect your post. Did you raise any concern for the state?' he said, 'Thamizhar have self-respect. We will not allow anyone from Delhi to rule us. People will support the Dravidian Model government.' IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
TN CM MK Stalin rejects Delhi's control over Tamil Nadu; says Dravidian model has people's mandate and will continue beyond 2026
SALEM: Tamil Nadu cheif minister M.K. Stalin said during a government event in Salem on Thursday that proud Tamils will never let New Delhi rule the state. 'The people endorse a Dravidian model government that can uplift Tamil Nadu despite obstacles and steer through difficulties. This support will persist in 2026, just as it is currently,' CM Stalin said. He was responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah 's recent remarks during his Madurai visit, where Shah accused the DMK government of altering Union government schemes and preventing the public from receiving benefits. Stalin countered the claims by saying, 'However, the reality is that the state government is allocating additional funds, contending that the drinking water and housing construction initiatives cannot advance with the budget provided by the Union government.' He added that the state government is funding over 50 percent of the cost for projects that are named after the Prime Minister. Quoting a line from the film Padayappa, Stalin remarked that just as the groom in the film wears a shirt that belongs to someone else, the state is also financing Union government projects. He further accused the Union government of trying to suppress and undermine Tamil Nadu's heritage. Stalin also criticised AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), stating that the Leader of the Opposition has aligned himself with Delhi and lacks the courage to question them. 'The public is rejecting their coalition because they are marginalising Tamil Nadu with anti-Tamil Nadu sentiments and ideologies,' Stalin asserted, adding that the AIADMK and its allies are forming alliances just to safeguard their positions. He went on to say that when the rights of Tamil Nadu were taken away, the AIADMK and its allies remained silent and did not object to what he termed as the BJP's indirect rule in the state. 'Even now, Amit Shah is openly declaring that the BJP will form a coalition, yet he (EPS) stays silent, putting his own selfish interests first,' Stalin claimed, adding that EPS has betrayed his own party. He concluded by saying the public is well aware and will not be misled into accepting EPS again.
