Vote for INDIA bloc if you want democracy: CM Stalin to people
Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu) (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has called on people here to vote for the INDIA bloc if they want democracy and social justice to prevail in the country.
Slamming Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Stalin on Friday said that if her claim of not having enough money to contest the Lok Sabha polls was true, the question is what happened to the fund the BJP received through electoral bonds.
"Madam, if you want to contest the polls, you should meet the people and should toil hard for people's welfare. Since you know the result that the people will not vote for you, you have decided not to contest," he said.
At a recent event in New Delhi, Sitharaman had commented that she declined the offer of the BJP to contest elections, pleading that she did not have the "kind of funds" required for the fighting the Lok Sabha polls.
Canvassing votes for the DMK's Dharmapuri candidate A Mani and Congress nominee for the Krishnagiri constituency Gopinath, Stalin said people should vote for the INDIA bloc to ensure democracy and social justice prevail in the country.
"Will you do it? Are you ready to vote for INDIA (bloc)?" he asked while addressing an election rally here.
"The forthcoming election is an important one in the history of India. It is time to send the BJP which is ruling at the Centre packing," he said, amid applause from the public.
"BJP wants to divide people based on caste, religion, language," he alleged.
Targeting Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader S Ramadoss for forging an alliance with the BJP for the April 19 polls in Tamil Nadu, he said what is the secret behind his decision to join the saffron party which is against social justice and democracy.
"BJP has never endorsed the policies of the PMK in the past and despite knowing it, what is the reason for him (S Ramadoss) to join that party?" he asked.
Reiterating his party's long-time demand for a nationwide caste-based census, Stalin said it is the central government which has the rights to conduct caste-based census across the country.
"A state government would be able to conduct a caste-based survey and not a census like the Union government," he explained.
The DMK president also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for trying to take away the rights of states despite him being a chief minister of Gujarat for 12 years.
"He served Gujarat as the chief minister for 12 years and after becoming the prime minister, he wants to take away the rights of the states," Stalin alleged.
The CM pointed out that Modi had increased the prices of cooking gas and fuel prices and reduced the rates recently in view of the forthcoming polls.
Stalin later listed the schemes launched by his party-led government for the welfare of the people in the region.
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Veteran politician, BJP MP & ex-Union minister Srinivasa Prasad passes away
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran politician, BJP MP and former Union Minister V Srinivasa Prasad died on Monday, family sources said.
The 76-year-old Lok Sabha member from Chamarajnagar was ailing for some time and being treated at a private hospital, where he passed away early today.
Prasad is survived by wife and three daughters.
He was a six-time MP from Chamarajanagar and also served as MLA from Nanjangud in Mysuru district for two terms.
On March 18 this year, Prasad announced his retirement from electoral politics, marking his 50 years in public life.
He first contested Assembly elections as an independent in 1974.
Prasad joined the erstwhile Janata Party in 1976 and switched over to the Congress in 1979. He also had a stint with the JD(S), JD (U), and the Samata Party before crossing over to the BJP.
Prasad served as the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004.
He returned to the Congress fold later, got elected as an MLA in 2013 and became Revenue Minister in the Siddaramaiah government.
In 2016, Prasad resigned from the Assembly and rejoined the BJP. He contested the 2017 Nanjangud bypolls on a BJP ticket but lost. He then successfully fought the Lok Sabha election from Chamarajanagar in 2019.
Condoling his death, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described Prasad as a strong voice for the oppressed Dalits.
"The departure of the leader who lived the struggle against injustice and inequality is a big setback for the political struggle for social justice in the state," he added.
"He was a progressive-thinking political leader. Although we worked in different parties for a long time in old Mysuru region, we maintained a respectful relationship with each other. When I met him recently, we reminisced. I never thought Prasad would leave us so soon," the CM said.
BJP stalwart and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said: 'I met him only a few days ago and I can't believe that he is not with us now. He was recognised as an influential Dalit leader who had made his mark in the politics of the state and the country."
