TN CM MK Stalin says SIR a 'shortcut attempt' to defeat DMK
Chennai (PTI): In a veiled attack on actor-politician Vijay-led TVK, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday said the DMK captured power for the first time after toiling for 18 long years.
Without naming the BJP, he said since the DMK could not be defeated ideologically, a shortcut through the Election Commission is being attempted and that is the SIR.
Stalin inaugurated the "DMK 75 - knowledge carnival" a youth wing event and released the book, "Kaalathin Niram Karuppu Sivappu- DMK 75", and delivered his special address.
He said the party founded by common people achieved the feat of capturing power in 1967 and it was the first state-level party to do so and this is being researched to this day.
"We did not come to power by making a declaration that we have started a party and that I am the next Chief Minister," he said, underscoring that it was easier said than done and without naming actor-politician Vijay's TVK.
Furthermore, the CM said right from the level of party leadership to the last-level worker, everyone worked tirelessly.
"For 18 years (1949-1967), they gave their lives and toiled, every single one of them! So many struggles, imprisonments, sacrifices and betrayals and the suffering endured by the DMK was nothing ordinary."
Referring to the unique propagation methods adopted by the DMK in its early years to mould public opinion --like reading out Dravidian movement magazines in public places including tea shops-- he said the scale of victory was historic, which no one could ever replicate.
"Some who do not know all this history try to intimidate us! Some other fools daydream that they will win just like the DMK."
In order to win like the DMK, one needs to toil like the DMK and also, they should posses knowledge like the DMK does.
Furthermore, he said: "However big may be the enemies and however big may be the conspiracies, they have not been able to defeat us! Since they cannot defeat the DMK ideologically, they are trying to see if they can beat the DMK through a shortcut; via the Election Commission and that is the Special Intensive Revision.
"Why conduct this SIR in such a hurried manner? Further he wondered why the exercise should be conducted when political parties have taken a stand against it as it creates confusion during the election season.
"Without listening to all this, the Election Commission has started the SIR work. We are fighting against this legally and politically, we will continue to fight, we will fight, that is a separate matter!
At the same time, he said the youth wing functionaries working on the ground must ensure that no fake voter finds a place in the electoral rolls. Also, they must make sure that genuine voters are not left out and ensure that no one's voting right is snatched away.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
