DMK MP A Raja demanded the Central government to provide ‘state autonomy’ to Tamil Nadu and not push the party to seek an independent country.
While addressing DMK’s local body representatives in Namakkal, he said, “We are not talking here with arrogance saying that we rule in Tamil Nadu. The DMK has abandoned separate Tamil Nadu demand and is now demanding state autonomy.”
“I am telling Amit Shah and the Prime Minister with utmost humility, I implore you in the presence of (our) leaders on the dais, our Chief Minister is journeying on the path of Anna (CN Annadurai, former Chief Minister and DMK founder), do not push us on the path of Periyar. Do not make us seek a separate country, give state autonomy and we will not rest till then,” he said.
Following backlash over Raja’s comments, DMK leader TKS Elangovan clarified that the Member of Parliament made the statement in frustration.
“Out of frustration, he made the statement as they are not giving us powers. How do we run the state? They have taken power of levying taxes by way of GST. We have to decide on our expenditure without knowing the budget,” he said.
It may be recalled that Raja’s comment comes against the background of DMK sticking to the term ‘Ondriya Arasu’ (Union government) in Tamil to refer to the Centre ever since it assumed office in May 2021 in the state.
Though ‘Mathiya Arasu’ is a relatively more common usage, the DMK has stuck to ‘Ondriya Arasu’ to underscore ‘federalism’ principles and to push ‘state autonomy.’ The DMK had also said that India is a union of states according to the Constitution.
