Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai strongly criticised Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for announcing that the DMK would challenge the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Supreme Court. Stalin made the announcement under Rule 110 in the State Assembly on April 3, reaffirming the state’s opposition to the Bill.
The Assembly had earlier passed a resolution against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill on March 27 with unanimous support from all parties except the BJP. Stalin argued that the Bill would adversely impact the lives of the Muslim community and disturb religious harmony.
Taking to social media platform X, Stalin accused the BJP of pushing the “anti-minority” Bill through Parliament past midnight, despite united opposition. “This brazen move undermines constitutional values and secularism. Tamil Nadu and the DMK will challenge it in the Supreme Court,” he wrote.
The BJP rammed through the anti-minority #WaqfAmendmentBill past midnight, ignoring united opposition.
This brazen move undermines constitutional values and secularism.
Tamil Nadu and the DMK will challenge it in the Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/jnxRteIxhf
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) April 3, 2025
Further, K Annamalai launched a sharp attack on CM Stalin for his black badge protest and announcement to challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Supreme Court, accusing the DMK of indulging in vote-bank politics under the guise of minority welfare.
Taking strong exception to the CM’s remarks in the Assembly and the symbolic protest staged by DMK and its alliance MLAs, Annamalai said the party’s actions were becoming “extremely predictable.” In a post on social media platform X, he stated, “DMK’s misadventure in the Assembly today… is all drama to save a portion of their minority vote bank.”
He further criticised Stalin for allegedly ignoring the broader impact of the previous Waqf law, asserting that not only Hindus but also Christians had been adversely affected. “Has the Tamil Nadu CM not realised that Christians are also affected parties?” he asked.
Mocking the DMK’s strategy, Annamalai added, “Their follow-up drama would be to hire someone before the next elections to write a book titled ‘Appa’s Efforts to Oppose the 2025 Waqf Bill’. They will turn this into an election plank to misguide innocent Muslims ahead of the 2026 Assembly and 2029 Parliamentary elections.”
Annamalai also urged the ruling party not to use the State Assembly as a stage for political theatrics.
DMK's misadventure in assembly today, which includes the DMK alliance MLAs wearing black badges and Thiru @mkstalin proclaiming they will challenge the Waqf Bill in the Supreme Court, is, of late, becoming extremely predictable! All this drama is to save a portion of their… https://t.co/6zcPJ6LbOa
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 3, 2025
Senior journalist Praveen Kumar criticised the DMK for planning to challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Supreme Court using state funds. He argued that if the party was truly concerned about the welfare of the Muslim community, it should bear the legal expenses from its own party funds rather than burdening the public exchequer.
“Like AAP under Kejriwal, the DMK has repeatedly used state funds to fight cases in High Courts and the Supreme Court, even to protect its corrupt ministers and secure their bail or acquittals,” Kumar alleged.
Meanwhile, DMK MLAs staged a protest outside the Tamil Nadu Secretariat condemning the central government’s move. Holding placards and raising slogans such as “Union Government! Modi Government! Do not deceive the Muslims,” the legislators voiced strong opposition to the passage of the Waqf Board amendment bill.
Critics have alleged that in the run-up to the next Assembly elections, the DMK will resort to political theatrics to divert public attention from its governance failures. “Until the elections, people will witness many such dramas. The DMK will try to mask its inefficiency by projecting itself as the champion of Tamils, Tamil language, Muslims, Christians, MBCs, SCs, STs—essentially anyone it can claim to represent,” they said.
According to critics, the party will also rake up long-standing unresolved issues to trap opponents in a political “Chakra Vyuh.” Efforts will be made to portray the regime as non-corrupt, law-abiding, and secular, while claiming widespread public support.
However, critics note that the DMK conveniently avoids critical inter-state issues such as the Cauvery water and Mekedatu dam dispute with the Congress-ruled Karnataka, and the Mullaperiyar dam or hazardous waste dumping issues involving Kerala’s Left-led government under CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
They further accused the DMK of enjoying favourable media coverage, using it to amplify its narrative while allegedly relying on its IT wing to circulate misinformation and fake news against political opponents on social media platforms.
