Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 25: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has raised concerns over a potential reduction in the state’s number of Members of Parliament (MPs), following the success of population control measures implemented in the state.
Speaking on the issue, CM Stalin emphasized that Tamil Nadu had made significant progress in controlling its population, a goal that India had set to achieve. However, he pointed out that this success could lead to a reduction in the state’s representation in the Indian Parliament. “India’s big goal was to control its population. Tamil Nadu has achieved huge success in this. We are facing a situation where there may be a possible decrease in parliament seats in Tamil Nadu due to less population,” said Stalin. If the population continues to decline, the state could see its number of MPs decrease from the current 39 to just 31.
BJP Leader Tamilisai Soundarajan Criticizes DMK Over Language Politics
Meanwhile, BJP leader Tamilisai Soundarajan launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister MK Stalin and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) after an incident in which Hindi lettering on name boards at a Railway station in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, was allegedly erased by DMK workers. The incident has sparked controversy in the ongoing row between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over the three-language National Education Policy (NEP).
Soundarajan condemned the actions of the DMK workers, saying, “I condemn the attitude of DMK workers, erasing the Hindi words with black tar. This is public property. People from the North are also coming to the state. Railway is connecting all the states. What authority do you have to erase Hindi words?” She also criticized Stalin for his stance on language politics, particularly regarding education, challenging the Chief Minister to disclose how many children from his family or his ministers’ families are studying in schools that teach only two languages instead of three.
Soundarajan further accused the DMK of double standards, claiming that while the party advocated for Hindi in business matters, it opposed the teaching of other languages for the welfare of poor children. “This is politicisation of the interests of the public. People are understanding the double standards of DMK,” she said.
She also pointed out the practical problems that children from Tamil Nadu may face when traveling to other parts of the country. “When some children went to Punjab and Varanasi, they faced problems in communication. They cannot encash on language politics anymore. There are other issues in Tamil Nadu and to hide those, they are doing politics on language,” she added.