CHENNAI: Continuing his attack on the BJP for alleged attempts to impose Hindi, chief minister M K Stalin said the saffron party was aiming to create an 'imaginary India' by neglecting the states.
Addressing a public meeting on Sunday at Maraimalainagar in Chengalpet district, organised to explain the salient features of the TN Budget and to thank voters for the electoral victory in urban local body polls, Stalin said the Dravidian movement had shattered the lies propagated to impose Hindi in the past and it would do so even now.
"Some are attempting to give new forms to old lies in a bid to impose Hindi and reiterate their supremacy. Do not throw your bundle of lies at us. Dravidian movement has shattered your lies for years," he said.
He said non-Hindi speaking states as well as neutral voices in Hindi speaking states were opposing Union home minister Amit Shah's call to use Hindi as an alternative to English.
"India is a country with unity in diversity. This phenomenon is reason for India being united all these years. We have a responsibility to protect diversity, secularism, equality and fraternity," he said.
Indirectly referring to DMK leaders projecting Stalin for a role in national politics, Stalin hinted that he was not interested in such a role.
"All of you shower me with accolades. You say I am the permanent chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Some have gone even beyond that. But I know my height," he said.
Stalin said that he only wanted to work hard to retain the honour bestowed by the people of Tamil Nadu upon him.
He urged local body representatives to act responsibly, discharge their duties sincerely and be one among the people.
Stalin said that now other states have also started following the Dravidian model of governance by implementing social justice schemes and have begun speaking about federalism and language rights.
"To those who ask what is the Dravidian model, my reply is that the model provides everything for everyone," he said.
