MK Stalin Targets PM Modi, Alleges RTI Act Added to ‘Alliance’ with ED and IT

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of incorporating the Right to Information Act (RTI) into his “alliance,” alongside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax (IT) department. The sharp remarks came in the wake of PM Modi’s criticism of the Congress regarding the Katchatheevu island controversy, which was brought to light through an RTI report.

Stalin suggested that the Prime Minister’s reliance on RTI was a tactic to lend credibility to his statements, which, according to Stalin, lacked public trust. “Since (PM) Modi knows that people will not believe if Modi says anything, he is using RTI for gimmicks,” stated Stalin, expressing skepticism over Modi’s motives.

The controversy over Katchatheevu, a strategic island ceded to Sri Lanka by Indira Gandhi’s government in 1974, was recently highlighted by Modi during a rally in Uttar Pradesh. Stalin questioned the relevance of bringing up the issue in a northern state, implying that it was a ploy to distract from more pressing issues.

Emphasizing the need for social justice and equality, Stalin argued that the BJP must be ousted in the forthcoming elections. He accused the Prime Minister of being fully aware of the actions of the ED, IT, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), despite Modi’s claims of ignorance, particularly regarding the arrests of chief ministers and the freezing of the Congress party’s accounts.

Stalin also addressed criticisms labeling him as anti-religious, clarifying his stance on communalism and the misuse of religion for political gain. “We are enemies of the communalism that splits people and not of the religion,” he clarified, distancing himself from accusations of hostility towards religious practices.

As the political landscape heats up ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Stalin’s comments reflect the intensifying rhetoric and the strategic positioning of parties in a bid to appeal to their respective voter bases.