Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unleashed a blistering attack on Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), accusing it of peddling a separatist mindset under the guise of Dravidian identity politics to dodge accountability for rampant corruption, caste-based violence, and rising drug abuse. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Sitharaman, a native of Tamil Nadu, dismissed DMK’s claims of championing social justice as a “bogus argument,” pointing to the state’s deteriorating governance under Chief Minister M K Stalin.
Sitharaman alleged that the DMK distracts from its failures by raising emotive issues like language and regional identity, falsely accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of opposing Dravidian interests. “They claim their tax money shouldn’t go to Bihar. Is Bihar in Pakistan? This separatist logic dominates their so-called Dravidian model,” she said, criticizing the party’s narrative that pits Tamil Nadu against other Indian states. She highlighted incidents of caste-based atrocities, particularly against Scheduled Castes, including a shocking case where a water source was contaminated with human excreta. “My blood boils at such incidents. Caste-based honor killings are rampant,” she added, questioning DMK’s commitment to social justice.
The minister also pointed to corruption allegations against DMK ministers, some of whom have faced jail time, and the party’s alleged ties to a drug smuggler, contrasting this with the Modi government’s clean record. “DMK’s misgovernance has reached its peak,” she said, noting public frustration with the party’s dynastic control and failure to address issues like spurious liquor deaths, which have disproportionately affected marginalized communities. She also raised concerns about rising drug abuse in schools and unchecked liquor availability, undermining Tamil Nadu’s social fabric.
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Sitharaman expressed optimism about the AIADMK-BJP alliance’s prospects in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, citing the Modi government’s contributions to the state’s development, including new ports, highways, and central educational institutes. She refuted DMK’s allegations against the BJP on language and identity, asking, “Are Tamil Nadu BJP leaders not part of Tamil Nadu? How do they define Dravidianism?” She also referenced the unresolved December rape case at Anna University, alleging links between the accused and the DMK, and questioned whether justice was served.
Highlighting the legacy of women in Tamil Nadu politics, Sitharaman invoked former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, revered as “Amma,” to underscore the state’s tradition of strong female leadership, which she claimed the DMK has failed to uphold. She sidestepped questions about internal AIADMK issues, calling them the party’s internal affairs, and denied rumors of discord involving former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, insisting that the party is united under Modi’s leadership.
As the BJP gears up to challenge the DMK-Congress-Left combine, Sitharaman’s remarks signal a heated electoral battle ahead, with the ruling party’s governance and ideological contradictions under intense scrutiny. Her critique underscores a broader narrative of accountability, positioning the BJP as a champion of inclusive development against what she calls the DMK’s divisive and corrupt regime.
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