Chennai, April 6: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday lashed out at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for not attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official engagements in Rameswaram, where the PM inaugurated the new Pamban Bridge and launched projects worth over ₹8,000 crore.
Stalin, who was in Ooty for the inauguration of a government hospital, said he had informed the Prime Minister about his absence and deputed Ministers Thangam Thennarasu and Raja Kannappan to represent the state government. “Since I am taking part in this government function, I have conveyed to the PM about my inability to take part in his meeting,” he said, also raising concerns about the delimitation process. “Through this meeting and through you, I hereby seek the Prime Minister to allay the fears of delimitation.”
However, BJP state president K Annamalai termed Stalin’s explanation unacceptable. “The reason given by him is not acceptable. He knew about the PM’s visit well in advance. The Prime Minister didn’t head straight to Delhi from Sri Lanka — he came to Tamil Nadu to dedicate key projects,” he told reporters.
“The CM has failed in his duty. He should have given due respect to the PM,” Annamalai added. “He went to Ooty since it is hot in Rameswaram, and he can’t bear the heat. He is doing politics in the name of delimitation. The BJP strongly condemns his absence and demands that he apologise to the people of Tamil Nadu.”
