'Over Rs 5 lakh crore': Amit Shah counters Stalin's claim, reveals quantum of Central funds to TN

IANS February 26, 2025 232 views

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp political counterattack against Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister D.K. Stalin, revealing substantial Central funds allocated to the state. Shah not only rebutted Stalin's funding claims but also predicted a future BJP-NDA government in Tamil Nadu. The minister accused DMK leaders of widespread corruption and strategic distraction from governance issues. Shah's remarks signal an intensifying political battle ahead of the 2026 state assembly elections.

"All those involved in corruption should take membership in the DMK" - Amit Shah
Chennai, Feb 26: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday rebutted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister D.K. Stalin's claim that the Centre was withholding funds to the southern state, revealing that PM Narendra Modi-led government had provided it over Rs 5 lakh crore since 2014.

Key Points

1

Centre allocated over Rs 5 lakh crore to Tamil Nadu since 2014

2

Shah predicts BJP-NDA victory in 2026 state elections

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Accused DMK leaders of corruption and nepotism

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Challenged Stalin's delimitation concerns

Tamil Nadu was allocated Rs 5,08,337 crore between 2014 and 2024, significantly more than what was allocated during the UPA regime, he said.

He also said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form the government in Tamil Nadu after the 2026 Legislative Assembly elections.

In his remarks after inaugurating the BJP office in Coimbatore and the e-inauguration of two other district offices in Tiruvannamalai and Ramanathapuram, the senior BJP leader urged party cadres to prepare for a BJP-led NDA government in the state.

He emphasised that the new government would eliminate nepotism and corruption while ushering in an era of development.

Targeting the ruling DMK, Minister Shah alleged that its leaders were deeply involved in corruption.

He claimed that while one DMK leader was embroiled in a cash-for-jobs scam, another was involved in illegal sand mining and money laundering.

He further stated that some leaders were facing disproportionate assets cases. "All those involved in corruption should take membership in the DMK," he remarked sarcastically.

The Union Home Minister also accused CM Stalin and his son and Deputy Chief Minister, Udhayanidhi Stalin, of raising diversionary issues to shift public focus from real concerns.

He specifically referred to CM Stalin's decision to call for an all-party meeting on March 5 to discuss the upcoming delimitation exercise.

Amit Shah reassured that Prime Minister Modi had already clarified that no parliamentary seats would be reduced for southern states as a result of the delimitation process.

He emphasised that the redrawing of constituencies based on population levels would not affect the proportion of Lok Sabha MPs from the southern states.

He accused the DMK government of unnecessarily fuelling concerns over the delimitation process to distract from pressing governance issues.

The delimitation exercise, expected to take place next year, has become a major point of contention between the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government and the BJP-led Centre.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Stalin announced an all-party meeting on March 5 to deliberate on the issue.

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