Speaking to reporters following a Cabinet meeting at the Secretariat, Stalin also announced that an all-party meeting would be held on March 5 to deliberate on the impending Lok Sabha delimitation issue.
According to the Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu faces prospect of losing eight parliamentary seats as a consequence of its effective implementation of population control measures.
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“Tamil Nadu succeeded in population control through the family planning programme. Just because population is less, there is a situation of the Lok Sabha seats being cut down (in TN). We stand to lose 8 seats and as a result, we would be having only 31 MPs, and not the 39 (present number),” Stalin said, reported PTI.
The CM noted that all political parties registered with the Election Commission of India would be invited to the meeting and urged leaders to set aside their differences in the interest of Tamil Nadu. He emphasised that the state’s voice in Parliament must not be weakened.
When asked whether the agenda would include discussions on the three-language policy, which remains a point of contention between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre under the National education Policy (NEP), Stalin underscored the need for adequate parliamentary representation to effectively oppose such policies. “Because, in the name of delimitation, a sword is hanging over southern states,” he remarked.
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Highlighting Tamil Nadu’s achievements in various development indices, Stalin argued that the proposed reduction in Lok Sabha seats would adversely affect the state’s interests. “Our representation (in Parliament) will reduce, Tamil Nadu’s voice is being stifled. This is a matter of Tamil Nadu’s rights. All leaders and political parties should jointly speak across party lines on the issue,” he asserted.
On the broader issue of Hindi imposition, Stalin accused the Centre of igniting another round of linguistic tensions. “Yes, certainly. We are ready for it,” he said when asked if the government was sowing the seeds for a fresh “language war.” The ruling DMK has consistently opposed the three-language policy, advocating for Tamil and English as sufficient for the state. the party has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of pushing Hindi, a charge that the Centre has repeatedly denied.
The DMK’s opposition to Hindi imposition dates back to 1965, when the party led widespread protests against attempts to enforce the language in Tamil Nadu.
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Stalin also shared a copy of the all-party meeting invitation on his social media account reiterating concerns over issues such as central fund allocation and the potential impact of seat reduction on Tamil Nadu. Stressing the need for a unified stance, he called upon all political leaders to prioritise the state’s interests in discussions.
(With PTI inputs)
