Stalin’s big announcement against delimitation, protest with black flags, said- Center will have to pay a ‘heavy price’

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced black flag protests across the state on April 16 against the proposed delimitation exercise and warned the Center that if it did not heed the voice of Tamil Nadu, it would face dire consequences and pay a “heavy price”. “The sword hanging over our heads has now fallen upon us,” Stalin, president of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), said after chairing an emergency meeting of party MPs and party district secretaries through video conference on the subject of delimitation. He said the DMK is in touch with MPs from all states and preparing a coordinated strategy to counter this “serious threat”.

called grave historical injustice

In a statement, Stalin alleged that the delimitation amendment to be tabled in Parliament on Thursday by the BJP-led government at the Center is a “gross historical injustice” against Tamil Nadu and the southern states. He alleged that the process of delimitation was against the southern states. He asked whether the delimitation process was “a punishment for contributing to India’s progress?” He asked, “Are Tamil Nadu and the southern states being rewarded in this way?”

BJP playing with fire

He claimed that naturally every South Indian in the region south of Vindhya is boiling with anger. The Chief Minister said, “BJP is playing with fire. Black flags will be put up at homes and public places across Tamil Nadu tomorrow (April 16) against delimitation. He said that if the Center refuses to respect the voice of Tamil Nadu and back down, you will have to face the consequences.

will have to pay a heavy price

“You will have to pay a heavy price,” the Chief Minister warned, adding that this warning was given not only as the DMK president but above all as a “self-respecting Tamil”. The DMK chief said his party was contacting all the states. “This is not about parties or individuals,” he said. It is about protecting the rights of our people. I appeal to all parties, MPs across the country to unite to protect our democracy.

Earlier in the day, Stalin held an emergency meeting with DMK MPs and later called a meeting of party district secretaries to discuss the possible impact on the state due to the delimitation exercise proposed by the Centre. According to party sources, Stalin held this emergency meeting through video conference from Dharmapuri amid his busy election schedule.

there will be massive movements

Chief Minister Stalin on Tuesday warned that if any step is taken to harm the state’s interest in the delimitation process or there is undue increase in the political power of the northern states, there will be massive agitation in Tamil Nadu, “full force protests” which could bring the state to a standstill. Stalin said the country could once again see “the DMK of the 1950s and 1960s.” He apparently referred to the party’s early days when it led several movements against state rights and the alleged imposition of Hindi.