Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday said the “fake spirituality” propagated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu would not work, since the State is the land of social reformer Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and Dravidian stalwarts and former Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi. He asserted that Tamil Nadu was a place where people respected all religions.
Speaking at a function held to distribute government welfare assistance and launch other initiatives in the Yelagiri foothills, he said the DMK had been highlighting the dip in national economic growth, which directly affected employment generation, especially among educated youth.
“We (DMK) are concerned about people’s welfare in terms of job creation and economic growth. In contrast, the BJP and its allies in Tamil Nadu are more concerned about religion. For political mileage, the BJP is misusing God’s name in the State,” he alleged.
Mr. Stalin said around 3,000 temples had been consecrated and ₹86 crore allocated for the restoration of churches and mosques in the State since the DMK assumed power in May 2021. “The BJP plays videos against Dravidian leaders such as Periyar and Annadurai — as seen during the Muruga Bhaktargal (devotees) conference in Madurai — but the AIADMK watches silently, with folded hands. Today, they (AIADMK) have pledged their party with the BJP. Tomorrow, they might even pledge the people of Tamil Nadu with the BJP. We will not let that happen,” he said.
Highlighting the reasons for Tamil Nadu’s sustained growth, Mr. Stalin said development in all districts — not just Chennai and its surroundings — remained key to the State’s overall progress. He added that regular field inspections help him understand ground realities better. “The large crowds that gather to greet me during such visits reinforce my belief that the DMK will not only win the 2026 Assembly election but also all future polls,” he said.
On the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme, Mr. Stalin assured those left out during the initial phase of enrolment that a census was being conducted to identify eligible beneficiaries. New beneficiaries will be announced in August or September, he said.
Ministers Duraimurugan, E.V. Velu, and R. Gandhi; MPs D.M. Kathir Anand (Vellore) and C.N. Annadurai (Tiruvannamalai); Tirupattur Collector K. Sivasoundaravalli were among those present.
