CHENNAI: The war of words between Udhayanidhi Stalin and K Annamalai took a rough turn on Thursday with the state deputy chief minister challenging the state BJP president to first step on Anna Salai in Chennai before speaking about dismantling Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters.
He was speaking at an event in Chennai to distribute house site pattas to beneficiaries. Recently, Annamalai said he would dismantle Anna Arivalayam brick by brick and “expose corrupt state ministers”.
Meanwhile, #getoutModi trended on X on Thursday after Udhayanidhi warned recently that #gobackModi will become #getoutModi if Centre persisted in “denying” Tamil Nadu funds.
Annamalai had challenged Udhayanidhi to say the words ‘Get out Modi’. After Annamalai issued the challenge on Wednesday, the slogan ‘Get out Modi’ trended on social media.
Speaking to reporters after the function, Udhayanidhi said, “How can you compare private and govt schools? Are free food and free uniforms provided in private schools? Private schools are also run after proper approval from the Union govt.”
Udhayanidhi was responding to the comments of Annamalai, who asked why a third language is taught only in private schools and not in govt schools. Later, when Udhayanidhi arrived at Anna Arivalayam to attend DMK youth wing meeting, members chanted the slogan ‘Get out Modi’.
Meanwhile, to mark International Mother Languages Day on Friday, chief minister M K Stalin said on X, “We should protect our mother tongues from our foes. Tamil is our virtue. Tamil is our protection.”
Annamalai says he will visit Anna Salai alone, dares Udhayanidhi to stop him
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai said he was accepting the challenge of deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin to visit Anna Salai in Chennai and dared DMK govt to prevent him from doing so.
“You specify the exact location where I need to come. I will come alone when I visit Chennai next time after Feb 26,’’ Annamalai told reporters in Salem on Thursday. He was responding to Udhayanidhi’s dare asking Annamalai to visit Anna Salai at least, instead of Anna Arivalayam (DMK headquarters). Annamalai issued a counter challenge asking Udhayanidhi to use the govt machinery and prevent him from visiting Anna Salai.
In response to the `#GetoutModi’ trending on X, Annamalai announced he would begin a social media campaign with ‘#GetOutStalin’ on social media starting at 6 am on Friday. He said `#GetoutStalin’ would outnumber the ‘#GetOutModi’.
Batting for the three-language policy, Annamalai reiterated that learning a third language was important for TN. DMK and its allies are misleading the people, claiming that Hindi would become mandatory under the new education policy. He alleged that Hindi was being taught in schools run by leaders like TVK founder Vijay and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan.
Responding to the charge, Thirumavalavan said he did not run any school, but the Blue Star school in Velachery named by Annamalai was on the land belonging to him.
Annamalai said BJP planned to launch a 90-day signature campaign starting March 1 to advocate for the three-language policy.
