Chennai, Mar 16: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Sunday alleged that Christians are unable to celebrate Christmas peacefully in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Speaking at an Iftar gathering in Chennai, the DMK leader said concerns about the safety and rights of minorities were increasing across the country. Without elaborating on specific incidents, he claimed that not only Muslims but Christians were also facing difficulties in practising their religious traditions in BJP-ruled regions.
Stalin referred to recent remarks attributed to Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, concerning Muslims. He said he did not wish to discuss the issue in detail during the event as it would diminish the significance of the Iftar gathering.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister highlighted the presence of representatives from several Islamic organisations and described it as a sign of unity among minority groups. He said such solidarity was important not only for Tamil Nadu but also for the country as a whole.
Stalin also criticised the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, questioning their silence over alleged incidents of violence against minority communities.
He further asserted that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has historically supported minority rights, stating that the party had raised such issues in the state assembly and maintained close ties with Muslim organisations over several decades.
According to Stalin, the relationship between the party and minority communities dates back to the leadership of C. N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi, and continues to remain strong today.