Chennai, Apr 17 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin

on Monday the slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre for undermining

the States and systematically eroding their powers by taking control of subjects

listed in the Concurrent List over the past ten years.

In a strongly worded letter titled "Why is State Autonomy Necessary?" in a Tamil

daily, Mr Stalin voiced his deep concern over what he described as an alarming

centralisation of power.

Alleging that the Centre was attempting to turn state governments into powerless

administrative units that merely execute instructions from New Delhi, he said the

BJP government wants to reduce state governments to rubber stamps—entities

without legislative authority, incapable of independent decision-making.

Over the past decade, many subjects that were once shared between the Centre

and the states have been snatched and effectively brought under exclusive control

of the Centre, he added.

Mr Stalin compared the current situation with the past era of former Chief Minister

and DMK Patriarch M Karunanidhi, who had advocated for protecting state autonomy

all through his public life.

“Back then, only a few powers were taken away. But today, the Centre is attempting to

completely paralyse the states,” he said, adding, the present situation is far worse and

required immediate attention.

Reiterating his party’s longstanding position, Stalin declared that protecting the rights

and powers of state governments is at the core of the DMK’s ideology.

“Our call for state autonomy is not just political rhetoric—it is a fight to protect the livelihood,

identity, and dignity of the people,” he asserted.

UNI GV 1740