Trichy: Chief minister M K Stalin said Tamil Nadu should unite to prevent drug addiction and the much worse communal addiction from entering the state.
Flagging off MDMK general secretary Vaiko’s ‘Equality March’ in Trichy on Friday, chief minister M K Stalin said caste and religious conflicts, along with drug abuse, have emerged as a major problem in the country. The march also aims to create awareness against drug abuse.
“Even those holding responsible positions, including Union ministers, make hate speeches and instigate communal clashes,” Stalin said. “For their personal ideology, they are engaging in activities that undermine country’s unity and peace,” he added.
Stalin said that a situation has emerged where Muslims, Christians, adidravidars and backward communities are living in fear. “Recent Christmas celebrations saw violence in many parts of the country. Did such a situation exist in India a few years back?” he asked. Stalin said the days when different communities came together and lived joyfully have become a thing of past. He said divisive forces were at work, turning people against one another. “Instead of using spirituality (aanmeegam) to teach love (anbu), some groups use it to create conflict (vambu),” he said.
On drug abuse, Stalin said the state and union govts should work together to prevent drugs from entering the country and getting trafficked into states. “Drug trafficking must be dealt with coordinated efforts between state and union govts,” he said. TN govt was extending required support to the union and other state govts to tackle drug abuse, he added. He also urged the film industry not to glorify drugs in movies. “Film industry should create their works with responsibility. Glorifying drugs will destroy an entire generation,” Stalin said.
MDMK chief Vaiko said that DMK would return to power with a thumping majority in the upcoming election. Functionaries from VCK, CPI, CPM, IUML, MNM, MMK, and DK participated. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan in a veiled attack at TVK and NTK said that entities supporting ‘sanatana forces’ wearing the masks of Dravidam and Tamil nationalism are engaging in divisive politics. “We must stand united to defeat such proxies. Dravidam is not against Tamil. It is because of Dravidam, Tamil is still alive in the state,” he said.
Courtesy : TOI
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