Fact Check: Stalin gives retrofitted petrol scooters only to Muslims with disabilities?
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Claim: The image shows TN CM Stalin distributing retrofitted petrol scooters as part of a government scheme only intended for Muslims.
Fact: The claim is false. The government scheme does not mention a particular religious identity as part of the eligibility criteria.
The Government of Tamil Nadu has announced the distribution of retrofitted petrol scooters to persons with disabilities through the ‘Retrofitted Petrol Scooters by Welfare of Differently Abled Persons Department’ scheme.
While mentioning the scheme, several social media usersare claiming that the TN government is showing favouritism to a certain religious community. Many are sharing a photograph of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin handing over a retrofitted scooter to a woman, insinuating that the woman is a Muslim and that the scheme is only intended for Muslims.
“Are there no differently abled persons in the Hindu religion? Is Tamil Nadu in India or Pakistan? (translated from Tamil)” wrote a Facebook user who the shared the image.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. People of all religious beliefs are eligible for the scheme.
Through a reverse image search, we found the same image on the official Instagram account of the Tamil Nadu chief minister’s office, dated March 3, 2025. The caption read, “Retrofitted petrol scooters were distributed by the chief minister during an official program in Nagapattinam district.” There is no special mention that the woman is a Muslim.
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Further, through a keyword search, we found the viral image in a news report about other welfare measures and government projects by the TN government. ETV Bharat Tamil Nadu published the image in a report on March 3, 2025. The caption read, “The chief minister presents a three-wheeler to a woman.”
The report stated that, in a program held in Nagapattinam District, the chief minister inaugurated 35 completed projects worth Rs 423.18 crores and laid the foundation stone for 206 new projects. Further, he distributed welfare measures to 38,956 beneficiaries. There is no mention of any special benefits being extended to Muslims.
It is clear that the beneficiary in the image was presented with the scooter as part of the welfare scheme and not because she is a Muslim.
While checking for information from the government about the scheme, we found that the Instagram account of the Department of Information and Public Relations shared the video on March 4 of another beneficiary of the scheme, Dilli Babu, thanking the chief minister for providing the vehicle. Hence, this showed that the scheme is applicable to persons with disabilities from all religious backgrounds.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
