Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India]: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) President Thol Thirumavalavan announced on Saturday that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has pledged to introduce new legislation aimed at strengthening Dalit reservation and empowerment within the current legislative session.
Speaking at the State-Level High-Level Awareness and Monitoring Committee meeting, Thirumavalavan highlighted the CM’s dedication to Dalit development, noting that Stalin spent over 2.5 hours discussing various government initiatives. He also urged stronger policy measures to address key issues affecting Dalits.
“Our CM attended this vigilance and monitoring committee meeting for the past 2.5 hours and explained what actions are being taken for the development of Dalits in Tamil Nadu. He is very keen on the purpose. On behalf of VCK, we emphasised many Dalit issues. We requested the CM to bring legislation for the promotion of Dalits in reservation, and he promised that within this session, the government will bring new legislation for this,” the VCK President stated.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, proposed by the BJP-led Central government. CM Stalin criticized the bill, arguing that it would “destroy the rights of Muslims.”
Expressing his strong opposition, Stalin took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the amendments, stating that they aim to weaken the Waqf Board and interfere with religious freedoms protected by the Constitution.
“All parties in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly have unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Bill to be brought by the Union BJP government! The BJP is working with the aim of crippling the functioning of the Waqf organisation by making several amendments at once, without any demand from Muslims,” Stalin wrote.
He further questioned the necessity of the amendments, adding, “What is the need for these amendments when the very people for whom they are said to be bringing them do not accept them? The people of Tamil Nadu want the Union Government to completely withdraw this law that divides the people and interferes with the freedom of religion granted by the Constitution.”
The opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill aligns with the stance of various political parties in Tamil Nadu, further intensifying the state’s resistance against the central government’s proposed reforms.