Chennai, March 23, 2025
DMK Deputy general secretary and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi has strongly condemned Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s sarcastic remarks on Tamil Nadu’s demand for its rightful share of central funds.
It may be recalled that Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said claims that Tamil Nadu is not getting its due share from central tax revenue, and funds relative to its economic contribution are misleading.
Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Tamil Nadu government is using diversion tactics by ignoring the Centre’s contribution to the State.
Highlighting various ongoing and upcoming schemes in Tamil Nadu, supported by the Union government, she said that there is much to be done in Tamil Nadu, but the focus is being diverted towards issues like the three-language policy and delimitation.
Dismissing the allegation of the state govt, she said the state has benefitted from various Union govt schemes and sector-specific programmes such as the production-linked incentive.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Kanimozhi said Sitharaman’s comments ridiculed the genuine concerns of the Tamil Nadu government. “For years, we have been fighting against your mockery of Tamil Nadu and its people. You should pause for a moment and reflect on what has happened to those who ridiculed Tamils. Do you really believe our fight for Tamil and our rights is a subject for mockery?” she asked in her post.
The DMK leader warned that the people of Tamil Nadu would deliver a fitting response, hinting at a similar outcome to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the upcoming state assembly polls.
The BJP-led NDA alliance had failed to win a single seat in Tamil Nadu, while the DMK-led INDIA bloc swept all 39 constituencies.
Kanimozhi’s remarks are part of a broader opposition by the DMK against the policies of the central government.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin recently convened a high-level meeting with leaders of various political parties to discuss the implications of the upcoming parliamentary constituency delimitation exercise.
Held on Saturday (March 22), the meeting saw the participation of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and Deputy Chief Ministers from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The session was part of the efforts to form a Joint Action Council (JAC), following Stalin’s appeal to other leaders to join hands against potential inequities in the delimitation process.
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin delivered a detailed presentation on the likely impact of the delimitation exercise. National leaders, including Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao, and BJD leaders Das Burma and Amar Patnaik, also addressed the gathering.
From Kerala, prominent attendees included INC state president K. Sudhakaran, Kerala Congress (Mani) leader Jose K. Mani, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam, and IUML leader Salahuddin. Other participants included Balwinder Singh (Shiromani Akali Dal, Punjab), N.K. Premachandran (RSP, Kerala), Imtiyaz Jalil (AIMIM, Telangana), Mahesh Goud (INC, Telangana), and Francis George (Kerala Congress).
Speakers unanimously urged the Centre to ensure that states successful in implementing population control and development programs are not unfairly penalized through the delimitation process. They emphasized the need for a consultative and consensus-based approach to this vital democratic exercise.
