In a rebuttal to Rahul Gandhi's remarks, TN BJP chief K. Annamalai clarified that states did not come together to form the union but for administrative reasons.
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's comments on Tamil Nadu, its history, GST, and the BJP, TN BJP chief K. Annamalai gave a point-by-point rebuttal in a statement and said he wanted to list a few remarkable accomplishments of his and his forefathers.
Rahul Gandhi attended the release of the autobiography of Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, titled "Ungalil Oruvan" (One Among You), and used the platform to make scathing remarks on BJP. He said, "What respect do you hold when the voice of Tamil Nadu says that GST is unfair and harms productive states and you do not respond? Who are you disrespecting? How can you take away the voice of people TN, and then say I respect them?"
Recalling his speech in Lok Sabha, he said, "They (BJP) do not understand the history of Tamil Nadu, and they don't understand the history of the nation. In 3,000 years, nobody has been able to force anything for Tamil people. My blood is mixed with your soil." He said PM was not listening to the people of TN who repeatedly wanted to talk about NEET.
In a point-by-point rebuttal, TN BJP chief K. Annamalai said, "Gifting Katchcha Theevu to Sri Lanka and putting our fishermen at loggerheads with the Sri Lankan navy; your father Rajiv Gandhi said implementing Mandal Commission for OBC reservation will open a can of worms; took credit for classical language status for Tamil and did not allocate funds for its research and development. Neither were you nor was the DMK bothered; peace, evacuation and a life's worth was never even in your agenda during the Lankan civil war where my brothers and sisters died in thousands."
Annamalai also clarified that states did not come together to form the union. "The union created states for administrative reasons. Your newfound interest in Tamil pride and culture is welcoming, but you will need a tutor like our PM Modi to help you understand and be reminded of how the interest of Tamil people were dealt in the past and are being given priority now. Rahul Gandhi has lived up to his reputation as India's Divider in Chief…. You should have spent time in the village cookery like how did you during your last trip instead of advocating separatism."
"Our armed forces are guarding this nation from all external forces; your mention of land gifted to border security forces is not similar to how your great grandfather Pandit Nehru let China annex Akasai Chin," pointed out Annamalai.
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