Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 6: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tamil Nadu for the inauguration of the New Pamban Bridge, the Congress party in the state has launched a black flag protest against the BJP’s “anti-Tamil policies.” The protest specifically highlights the alleged withholding of funds by the central government, along with various other policies that the party claims harm the state.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai condemned the central government’s stance on several issues, including the controversial One Nation One Election proposal, the passing of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, and the ongoing non-disbursement of funds to the state.
“The party is holding the protest to express opposition to One Nation One Election and to condemn the Waqf Bill as PM Modi reaches Rameswaram,” Selvaperunthagai said. “We are also raising new slogans as a part of our protest against the Waqf Board Amendment,” he added.
The party’s opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill was also articulated in a statement released on social media. According to Selvaperunthagai, the Waqf Bill is an attack on the rights of Muslims, aimed at marginalizing the community by undermining their personal laws and property rights. The statement further accused the RSS, BJP, and their allies of undermining the Constitution and setting a dangerous precedent for targeting other communities in the future.
MLA Oorvasi S Amirtharaj also criticized the BJP, accusing the party of deceiving the people of Tamil Nadu. “The central government has failed to provide relief funds for districts affected by storms and floods, and it is imposing Hindi while neglecting the education and livelihood of rural people in Tamil Nadu,” Amirtharaj said during a press conference.
The protest saw active participation from state trustees in Thoothukudi.
On the same day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, located in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu. The 2.07-kilometre-long bridge, which spans the Palk Strait, is a remarkable feat of engineering, featuring a vertical lift of 72.5 meters with two tracks and 88 spans of steel plate girders.