TN: BJP's Tamilisai Soundararajan slams DMK for "divisive politics"

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 31 : BJP senior leader and former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Friday accused the DMK of fostering regional hatred, and alleged that the party leaders had been using derogatory remarks against people from northern states.
Soundararajan was speaking to the reporters after paying floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th birth anniversary at Guindy, Chennai.
Tamilisai said the country was celebrating National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) with the same spirit as Independence Day.
"Today we are celebrating Unity Day in Delhi with the same pride and emotion with which we celebrate Independence Day," she said.
She credited Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel for laying the foundation of a united India and said the day symbolises "unity in diversity."
Targeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Tamilisai said she strongly condemned his "divisive political approach" on a day meant to celebrate unity.
"On this day of unity, I condemn the Chief Minister for his divisive politics," she said.
Accusing the ruling DMK of fostering regional hatred, she alleged that party leaders had been using derogatory remarks against people from northern states.
"DMK leaders call people from Bihar beggars and cow urine drinkers. They say those people are not South Indians and even refuse to greet Hindus during festivals," Tamilisai claimed.
She further alleged that "half the people in the DMK are not Tamils" and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks in Bihar were directed at the DMK, not the Tamil people.
"The Prime Minister criticised the DMK, not the Tamils. He has great respect for Tamil people," she said.
Tamilisai recalled that the Prime Minister had earlier accused the DMK of insulting the people of Bihar. She also referenced controversial past remarks by Congress and DMK leaders.
"Even Jawaharlal Nehru once said Biharis are unintelligent. Dayanidhi Maran said Biharis are only fit to clean bathrooms and wipe tables," she alleged.
Clarifying her stance, Tamilisai said the BJP's criticism was directed solely at the DMK leadership.
"Our criticism is against the DMK, not the Tamil people. I want Chief Minister Stalin to understand this clearly," she stated.
She also alleged that DMK and its alliance partners in the INDIA bloc had repeatedly insulted the people of Bihar, calling it an "unacceptable form of politics."
On whether the BJP would participate in the DMK-convened all-party meeting on the SIR (Special Investigation Report), Tamilisai said the party would decide internally.
"Our party will make a decision on participation. But if the meeting is against our principles, we will oppose it," she said.
Criticising the DMK's political culture, she said the party chooses condolence visits based on political calculations.
"If someone dies, they check their list before visiting. That's how the DMK operates," she alleged.
Referring to the release of the SIR report, she questioned the timing, given it came ahead of the elections.
"Even during the times of Nehru and Manmohan Singh, such reports were released. Why this sudden urgency now? The Chief Minister seems nervous as elections approach," Tamilisai remarked.
She added that DMK's comments about Bihar could provoke strong reactions there. "Because DMK is part of the INDIA bloc, I had to address their remarks in Bihar. If DMK leaders like Udhayanidhi Stalin go there, people will chase them away," she warned.
Commenting on alleged claims of 65 lakh names being excluded from Bihar's rolls, she said: "If 65 lakh people were removed, wouldn't they come to the streets and ask questions? Do we have to go to heaven to find them?"
"From Nehru's dishonest era to today's Tamil Nadu, where government jobs are sold for lakhs, corruption has become the state's guiding mantra," she charged.
Concluding her remarks, she said the Prime Minister's criticism was directed at the DMK alone and not at the Tamil people, asserting that he holds Tamils in high regard.
"Stalin's politics of division will not succeed. The Sengol placed in Parliament stands as a symbol of Tamil pride and unity," she said.