PUDUCHERRY: Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin accused the All India NR Congress-BJP coalition govt of destroying the Union territory of Puducherry’s identity and reducing it to a “municipality” governed by Delhi’s “remote control.“Campaigning for the candidates for the INDIA bloc on Monday in Puducherry, Stalin said Puducherry chief minister N Rangasamy had been reduced to a “puppet” while the lieutenant governor functions as the actual ruler. “Even to change a chief secretary, this chief minister has no power. Why even contest elections if you have no authority?” Stalin questioned, citing Rangasamy’s own recent expressions of frustration.Stalin emphasised that despite the legislative assembly of Puducherry passing resolutions 16 times, the Union govt has refused to grant full statehood. He promised that the DMK-led alliance would fight to ensure Puducherry is treated as a state and included in the Union finance commission to receive its rightful tax share.Stalin accused a Puducherry minister of illegally hoarding sandalwood oil at his warehouse in Villianur. He referred to the “mega-scam” involving fake drug manufacturing units.Stalin slammed the govt for the rise in drug supply and the failure to prevent the toxic gas tragedy in Reddiarpalayam that claimed three lives. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised a ‘Best’ Puducherry, but the NDA govt delivered the ‘worst.’ The govt has opened 400 bars but hasn’t conducted local body elections in years,” he said.Stalin outlined a comprehensive “Dravidian Model” road map for Puducherry’s development. He said the INDIA bloc, if voted to power, would reopen, modernise and convert AFT, Swadeshi and Bharathi textile mills into a textile park, conduct local body elections with proper reservations for women, dalit, and OBCs, hold an investors’ meet to create jobs, establish a fashion technology college, and launch the “1000 stars” training program for graduates. He promised to set up a “Maghizchi Illam” (happy home) for the elderly, establish a world-class oceanarium to boost tourism, and upgrade Puducherry and Karaikal municipalities into corporations.Stalin accused the NDA of attacking the Tamil language by imposing the CBSE curriculum in primary schools to eradicate mother-tongue education. “A race that loses its language cannot survive. This alliance is fundamentally against Tamil people and Tamil culture,” he warned.Stalin urged voters to support the candidates of the INDIA bloc. “I will always voice for Puducherry as much as I do for Tamil Nadu. Let us win together,” he said.
