Chennai, May 25 (UNI) Joining issue with the Opposition AIADMK on his visit to Delhi to attend

the Niti Aayog meet, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday asserted that the alleged

TASMAC scam took place during the previous AIADMK regime and there was no need for the

DMK to wave white flag and broker truce with the Centre.

Strongly refuting AIADMK Leader Edappadi K Palaniswami's criticisms that his attendance at

the Niti Aayog meet chaired by the Prime Minister waving white flag out of fear in the wake of the

ED raids that unearthed Rs 1,000 crore scam in the State-owned TASMAC, Mr Stalin the cases

were registered for the irregularities that occurred during the AIADMK regime and not during the

present DMK tenure.

Since this being the fact, there was no need for the DMK to wave the white flag to the Centre,

he said, in an epistle to the DMK cadres.

He said he had already made his Delhi visit public unlike Mr Palaniswami who air dashed to

the National Capital under the guise of visiting his new party office, changes four vehicle to

meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah following raids by the Central agencies on the premises

of his family members and business partners.

Pointing out that no other party than the DMK has been targetted by the Central agencies like

the ED, Income Tax and CBI, Mr Stalin the DMK was waging a legal battle and said the party

facing threats and intimidation was routine.

"Why should the DMK compromise on the raids conducted by the ED regarding the FIRs related

to the TASMAC irregularities that took place during the AIADMK regime? The Dravidian model

governance is the government that has confirmed through the Supreme Court opinions that the

actions of the ED are illegal", he said.

"No matter how many times we explain, the enemies will keep churning out the old dough. They

will not change or repent. The people of Tamil Nadu will not like them. The people have taken a

pledge that the Dravidian model of government will continue in the 2026 assembly elections as

well and our duty is to carry out their work for them.", he said.

He asserted that ensuring TN's rights was the DMK government's top priority and recalled

former Prime Minister iron lady Indira Gandhi's remarks made half a century ago that the

DMK was always firm either in extending support or opposing.

Even Former Prime Ministers A B Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders

too knew this very well,” he said.

"As for the DMK is concerned, it was not today or yesterday, but half a century ago that Prime

Minister Indira Gandhi clearly stated it. “The DMK is a movement that remains steadfast in its

position, whether it is supporting or opposing.” These are the words of the Iron Lady, who was

the Prime Minister of India. Cultured political leaders like Prime Ministers Vajpayee and

Manmohan Singh are also well aware of the DMK’s position", he added.

"Since it is a NITI Aayog meeting where the Prime Minister consults with the Chief Ministers of

the states on the future development of India, and since the role of Tamil Nadu in the country's

growth development has been established as very important under the Dravidian model of

government for the last 4 years, I, as the Chief Minister of the state, decided to participate in

it as a representative of the people of Tamil Nadu and it was made public", Mr Stalin said.

Since the Chief Ministers of many states also participated in the meeting chaired by Mr Modi,

he welcomed everyone and the Chief Ministers also interacted naturally with him.

"While the DMK has been continuously emphasizing that there is no development of India without

the participation of the states, I must share with you, my brothers and sisters, that this meeting was

in line with that", he asserted.

The DMK, being a patriotic movement, has always been in the forefront when it comes to the

security of the country.

"Political stand is different from cooperating with the Government on the country’s interest and

only on that count I participated in the Niti Aayog meet and met the Prime Minister to press for

the pending dues to the states and to seek new projects", he added.

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