Stalin Skips PM Modi’s Visit: BJP Calls It An Insult
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu. He came to the city of Rameswaram to open the new Pamban Bridge and launch many development projects worth over ₹8,000 crore. But the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. K. Stalin, did not attend the Prime Minister’s events. This caused a lot of criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Many BJP leaders said that Stalin insulted the Prime Minister by not being present. They also said that Stalin should say sorry to the people and to the Prime Minister.
Why Was CM Stalin Absent?
During PM Modi’s visit to Rameswaram, Stalin was in Udhagamandalam (also called Ooty), a hill town in Tamil Nadu. He was there to open a new government hospital. Stalin said that he had already told the Prime Minister that he could not attend because of this important state program.
He also said that he sent two state ministers, Thangam Thennarasu and Raja Kannappan, to represent him at the Prime Minister’s event. Stalin mentioned that he had asked for a meeting with the PM to talk about issues related to “delimitation” — a process that can change the number of seats in Parliament based on population.
BJP’s Strong Reaction
The BJP was not happy with Stalin’s actions. Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai called it a “drama.” He said that the reason given by Stalin was not good enough. According to Annamalai, the Chief Minister knew about the Prime Minister’s visit well in advance, and it was his duty to welcome the PM.
Annamalai also made fun of Stalin’s trip to Ooty. He said Stalin went to the hill station because Rameswaram was hot and Stalin could not bear the heat.
He added, “The Prime Minister came all the way to Tamil Nadu for the people. But the CM did not even come to welcome him. This is very wrong. He should have respected the PM. Stalin is doing politics. He should apologise to the people.”
Tamilisai Soundararajan Also Speaks Out
Another BJP leader, Tamilisai Soundararajan, also criticized Stalin. She said that while PM Modi was giving projects worth ₹8,000 crore to the people of Tamil Nadu, Stalin did not offer anything during his trip to Ooty.
She said, “The Chief Minister gave nothing to the people. But at the same time, the Prime Minister gave big projects. This shows who is really working for the people.”
Tamilisai also gave an example from the state of Telangana. She said that when the Prime Minister brought development to Telangana, the then Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao ignored him. Later, the people of Telangana ignored that Chief Minister in elections. She warned that the same thing could happen to Stalin if he keeps ignoring PM Modi.
What Is Delimitation?
Stalin had said that he wanted to talk to the Prime Minister about delimitation. But what does this mean?
Delimitation is the process of redrawing the borders of electoral areas based on the latest population data. This can lead to some states getting more seats in Parliament, while others get fewer.
Some southern states, including Tamil Nadu, are worried about this. They feel that they may lose seats because they controlled their population well, while northern states with larger populations may get more seats. Stalin wanted to talk about these fears with PM Modi.
However, the BJP said that Stalin was using this issue as an excuse to avoid the PM’s visit. They believe it was a political move.
Why Is This Important?
In a democracy, leaders from different political parties may disagree with each other. But when the Prime Minister visits a state, it is considered good manners for the Chief Minister to be present, even if they belong to different parties. It is a way of showing respect to the office of the Prime Minister.
By not attending, Stalin gave the BJP a chance to question his respect for national unity. The BJP is trying to show the people that Stalin cares more about politics than development.
What Are People Saying?
Some people support Stalin. They say he had official duties and had already informed the Prime Minister. They believe it is not necessary to attend every event and that the ministers he sent were enough.
Others agree with the BJP and think Stalin should have welcomed the PM. They feel that such behavior sends a wrong message, especially when the Prime Minister is coming with big development plans.
What Could Happen Next?
The BJP has asked for an apology from CM Stalin. They say that he failed in his duty to respect the Prime Minister. Whether Stalin will respond to these demands is still not clear.
This issue may also become a topic during elections. BJP leaders may continue to speak about this to show that the DMK (Stalin’s party) is not working for the people. On the other hand, the DMK may say that BJP is using this issue for political gain.
Politics in India often has moments of disagreement and drama. But at the end of the day, the people expect their leaders to work together for the progress of the country. The Prime Minister’s visit to Tamil Nadu was meant to bring development. The Chief Minister’s absence became a bigger issue than expected. Whether it was a serious insult or just a schedule conflict is something only time and the people will decide.
Respect, cooperation, and good governance are key to a strong democracy. Leaders must rise above politics when it comes to the welfare of the people.
