Calling Centre as Union govt not a crime: MK Stalin

Tamil Nadu Assembly witnesses debate between BJP and Chief Minister MK Stalin on use of words 'Union government'. Stalin said that addressing the Centre as Union government is not a crime.

Chennai:Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday said that calling the Centre as the Union government is not a crime and assured that DMK will continue fighting for federalism. Speaking on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his Address on the third day of the 16th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, BJP MLA Nainar Nagendran asked MK Stalin to explain why DMK is calling Central government as 'Ondriya Arasu' (Union government).

"Calling Centre as Union government is not a crime. No one needs to think as if it was a social sin,' to use the words "union government," he said, adding some were thinking so and it was wrong. "The first article of our Constitution says that India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states. We are only using that. We are not using something which does not find a place in the law. Union is not a wrong word and it implies a union of states," the Chief Minister said.

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"We are calling it as per the constitution. We are not saying anything against law," he replied. Stalin said no one needs to be alarmed at the use of words 'union government' for referring to the Centre. These two words have a connotation of federalism and that was the reason for them using it, he said. Stalin said that we will continue to address the Centre as the Union government.

Pointing out that few people are criticizing DMK by saying that party leaders like M Karunanidhi and CN Annadurai did not use the word, he cited the party's 1957 election manifesto and took the reference of Annadurai's speech in the parliament in 1963. He also recalled Rajaji's words calling for power decentralization and more federal rights. Nainar Nagendran also said that states were divided from India to which Higher Education Minister Ponmudi clarified that "states did not divide from India, India was formed by the union of states."

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The use of Tamil words "Ondriya Arasu" (union government) in the official communications of the state government has stirred the political corridors as DMK is using the word to oppose Narendra Modi government's power centralization and is pressing for more resources and rights for the states. DMK used 'Ondriya Arasu' to refer to the Central government and BJP has opposed the word because is it demeaning and some even see it as precedent for secessionist calls.

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