In what comes across as a bewildering speech by DMK MP A Raja in the Lok Sabha today, he mounted a sustained attack on the BJP-led Central Government while speaking proudly of his party’s “nationalist” credentials and legacy of “supporting” the armed forces. His speech was laced with secessionism and attempted to further the North-South divide amid the Pahalgam terror attack debate and the neutralization of the terrorists responsible for it via Operation Mahadev.

He first started with, “…as other members from the regional parties put it, they should not brand as we are antinational, DMK is known for national integration.”

The members of BJP raised questions on this claim to which he replied “Hindi nahi maloom, Hindi nahi maloom, still I am Indian.”

Acknowledging the state’s secessionist demands, he said, “There was a time that we wanted to have a separate state in the name of Dravida Nadu. In 1962 when the China aggression took place in this country, we gave up the separate state. In 1971, when the Pakistan war came into existence, our then chief minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi gave 5 crore which was not matched by none. In 1999, Kargil war imposed on us, that time, 100 crores were given on behalf of Tamil Nadu government by same Dr Kalaignar Karunanidhi, our beloved leader which was matched by none. Now as my colleague put it, the first rally to support the Indian army with lakhs of people was organized by my leader Mr. MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for which the entire country is indebted and followed it.”

Blaming the BJP government for their constant finger pointing to Congress Prime Ministers Nehru, Indira, Rajiv Gandhi, he justified their actions saying, “Any decision will be taken by the then prime minister or leader in the context and the circumstances and the situation prevailing over, that decision must be viewed and this decision must be weighed. Yes, in 1962, there was a sent to India. But it was suppressed by Nehru, concealed by Nehru? None other the prime minister in India. He was the only prime minister used to write letter to everyone. Whereas he appraised how the defeat was happened. What are all the reasons? climate, the terrain which was forced before our army, then the international China and Russia and the arms lapses, quality of the arms which was not able to pair the China, he honestly admitted and then army chief at the time tended resignation, with pain, Nehru accepted it. Past is past. Come to the present.”

He then claimed that none of the BJP members, not even the Prime Minister expressed regret for Pahalgam. Then he said something bizzare about the terrorists. “Today four persons have been shot down. You are claiming pride. How can you pride for four persons, terrorists were shot down?” 

He added, “Sir, 16th century Machiavelli, he’s a philosopher for them, ends justify the means, you can do anything, achieve the ends, that is your philosophy, you are telling that whatever happened in the Pahalgam, the culprits are shut down, so we got the victory, is it correct.” He then mouthed a Tamil proverb and said, “That is our philosophy, even the mother suffering starvation don’t do wrong. So, means is very important.”

Raja claimed that despite an IB report of threat, police and armed forces were not increased in the area and mocked at the BJP for thumping their chests about amending Article 370 and called it an “intelligence failure”. Then he pulled the Kandahar hijack and then dragged the then-PM Vajpayee and Ajit Doval.

On the issue of the “downed jets”, he said, “Defence minister of India says don’t ask about pencils, how many broken, how many rubber, whether the exam was conducted properly, sir we are not we are not concerned about the pencils and rubbers, but there should not be any malpractice in the examination, for result you are always doing malpractice. I wanted to harvest the wrong results bogus results that is why we are we are bothered about the means.”

Then he claimed that none of the countries from G20, G7, BRICS, Quad, “None of the organizations officially passed any resolution supporting India and condemning Pakistan. They are condemning the terroristic attack. Not Pakistan.”

Quoting the External Affairs Minister’s own statement, Raja pointed out that India had been warned by the US Vice President about an imminent Pakistani attack: “On 9th May, Vice President JD Vance called the Prime Minister warning of a massive Pakistani attack in next few hours… Are you sleeping?” He said it was shameful that India’s response came only after the Americans alerted them: “Vice President of America called the Prime Minister of India. You are going to be attacked. You are having military. You are having RAW. You are having IP. What you are doing yesterday?Is it not shame on your part?”

Mocking India’s claims of global support, Raja said, “Pakistan is getting elected as Vice Chairman in the United Nations Security Council to control terrorism.” He then asked the government to follow former PM Vajpayee. He said, “Don’t follow Nehruvian ideology. You will not, you can’t. You are not competent. But please follow at least your leader Atalji. What happened in the Kargil? Kargill war was conducted in a sensible manner with a collaborative measures. All stakeholders including the oppositions were taken into consideration. After the war after the Kargil war, he appointed a commission, and the commission report was placed before the parliament. This parliament deliberated the commission, what is the don’ts and dos what are the actions and inactions, such a fair prime minister is your predecessor.”

He ridiculed the contradiction of India’s global support saying, “You are claiming all the nations are with us… but Pakistan is getting membership elected as vice chairman in the United Nations Security Council to avoid. to control the terrorism.… are you not ashamed? And you want to label Pakistan as sponsor of terrorism.”

Concluding his speech, A Raja urged the parties across the board to unite, “Please come with this government and take this confidence… Stop this nonsense in the future at least.”

DMK Against National Integration

In 2021, the DMK IT wing’s official Twitter account quoted late former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Annadurai, saying that the demand for a separate “Dravida Nadu” is still relevant, and has fuelled separatism.

DMK Minister for Minorities Welfare and Non-Resident Tamils Welfare, SM Nasar, stirred controversy during the launch of a website and the release of a conference report at the 12th World Tamil Economic Conference. The event, held on 16 June 2025, at Hotel Le Royal Meridien, was jointly organized by the World Tamil Economic Institute and the Chennai Development Corporation. In his special address, Nasar claimed, “Amartya Sen said if Tamil Nadu were a separate country, it would become a superpower and rank 18th among global powers.”

In a program by the DMK in November 2024, Udhayanidhi Stalin received a shield in the form of a separate South India map, which indirectly references the “Dravida Nadu” separatist ideology once propagated by the DMK.

Chief Minister MK Stalin himself has claimed, “India is not one country, but a subcontinent,” a statement that lacks logic, is completely absurd, and goes against the very spirit of India’s constitution

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