Chennai: In a fiery address that resonated through Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin delivered a defiant message on Sunday, asserting that neither the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) nor the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would intimidate him or the Dravidian movement. The public meeting, organized by the DMK to commemorate Language Martyrs Day, became a platform for a robust political counteroffensive against what Stalin perceives as overreach by central agencies and the ruling dispensation at the Centre.
A Defiant Stand Against Central Agencies
"Are we cowards who would bow down at the mere mention of the CBI and ED?" Stalin questioned rhetorically, his voice firm. "The Dravidian family will not be cowed by your scare tactics. Tamil Nadu will not submit to Delhi's hegemony." This strong statement comes against a significant backdrop: the ED has been persistently communicating with the Tamil Nadu police, urging them to investigate corruption allegations against senior DMK leader K N Nehru. Stalin's remarks are seen as a direct response to these pressures, framing them as political tools rather than impartial legal processes.
The 2026 Election: Framed as a Civilizational Conflict
Elevating the political discourse to a historical and cultural plane, Stalin characterized the upcoming 2026 state assembly election as a continuation of a deep-seated conflict. "The 2026 election is yet another battle in the enduring Aryan-Dravidian war," he declared. He warned that forces attempting to dismantle Tamil tradition, along with their collaborators, would be decisively defeated on the electoral battlefield. This framing taps into long-standing socio-political narratives in the state, positioning the DMK as the guardian of Dravidian identity.
Targeting the Modi-Palaniswami Alliance
Stalin did not spare Prime Minister Narendra Modi or his local ally, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. He openly questioned the strategic wisdom behind Modi's plan to contest the 2026 elections with Palaniswami by his side. "Palaniswami has not secured a single electoral victory since 2019 and is infamously known for losing ten elections," Stalin pointed out. "With such a consistently losing team, how does the Prime Minister believe he can overcome our ideologically robust and united alliance?"
He also countered Modi's recent assertion that only an NDA government, not an AIADMK one, could foster growth in Tamil Nadu. "Modi claims an NDA government will make Tamil Nadu grow. But the reality is that Tamil Nadu has already grown and continues to progress each day," Stalin asserted, emphasizing the state's existing developmental trajectory.
Accusations of Disruption and a Counter on Drugs
The Chief Minister accused the Prime Minister of attempting to sow discord and disturb the peace in Tamil Nadu. "If you try to create chaos, it will not succeed. It is regrettable that some are endeavoring to disrupt the tranquility of Tamil Nadu. Such actions do not befit a person of Modi's stature," he stated.
In a sharp rebuttal to Modi's allegations of drug peddling in Tamil Nadu, Stalin turned the tables, pointing the finger at states governed by the BJP. He alleged that ports in Gujarat and Maharashtra—states under what he termed 'double engine governments'—were the primary entry points for narcotics into the country.
Commemorating Language Martyrs
Earlier on Sunday, dressed solemnly in black, Chief Minister Stalin, alongside Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, inaugurated statues of language martyrs Thalamuthu and Natarajan in Chennai and paid floral tributes. In a post on social media platform X, he reinforced the state's enduring stance: "Tamil Nadu resisted Hindi imposition in the past, resists it now, and will continue to do so in the future as well," linking the day's commemoration to an ongoing political and cultural struggle.
Stalin's comprehensive address, blending defiance, cultural rhetoric, and political critique, sets a confrontational tone for the political landscape leading up to the 2026 elections, firmly positioning the DMK against central agencies and the BJP-led NDA alliance.
