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“Stomach Hurts, Intestines Burn; Is Kodaikanal Necessary?” Netizens Troll MK Stalin Along The Lines Of His Father Karunanidhi

The Commune

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, accompanied by his family, embarked on a six-day summer vacation to Kodaikanal on 29 April 2024.

Since it was a private visit, no visitors or party members were permitted to meet him. More than 200 police officers were stationed at Madurai airport in anticipation of the CM’s arrival. Stalin and his family then traveled to Kodaikanal via the Batlagundu road and are staying at The Tamara Resort on St. Mary’s Road. Approximately 1500 police personnel have been deployed to ensure their security. Additionally, the flying of drones and balloons has been prohibited in the district until 4 May 2024. The Chief Minister is scheduled to remain in Kodaikanal until 4 May 2024.

Critique Surrounding Stalin’s Trip To Kodaikanal

Since the arrest of former DMK functionary and alleged international drug trafficker Jaffer Sadiq, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a noticeable uptick in drug seizures and the prevalence of drug abuse among its youth, including substances like ganja, drug pills, etc. Concurrently, instances of intoxicated individuals committing acts of violence against both the public and government officials have also been on the rise. Amidst this, netizens directed their criticism towards Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. This criticism intensified when, as the CM was departing from Madurai Airport, BJP member Shankar Pandian attempted to present a petition and a packet of ganja to Stalin, seemingly as a form of protest against his visit to Kodaikanal. However, Pandian was promptly detained by the police and taken to the Avaniyapuram police station for further questioning.

In his petition, Pandian purportedly expressed concern about widespread drug use in the state, including the availability of internationally prohibited drugs. He highlighted the negative impact of drug addiction on youth, including students, children, and daily wage laborers, and urged Chief Minister Stalin to take action to combat drug use and trafficking in Tamil Nadu.

Another concern that stakeholders in the tourism industry expressed was that the Chief Minister’s visit to Kodaikanal during peak tourist season could potentially slow down tourism. Robin, president of the Tourist Guides Association in Kodaikanal, noted that the hill station attracts tourists seeking relief from the summer heat in the plains, especially when outdoor spaces are crowded. He mentioned that some tourists rushed to leave hotels on 28 April 2024, anticipating new restrictions due to the CM’s visit.

It is reported that routes leading to Kodaikanal through the plains will be closed from 8 AM to 1 PM. With a significant influx of tourists from Kerala following the conclusion of the general election, there is increased congestion in the area. Suggestions have been made to open alternative routes, including one from Munnar, Kerala, to alleviate traffic congestion.

The netizens also began circulating former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s critique of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, “Stomach hurts; Intestines burn; Is Kodanadu Necessary?” 

This criticism, originally aimed at ridiculing Jayalalithaa, drawing attention to rising prices of pulses when Karunanidhi served as opposition leader, is now being repurposed by netizens to mock current Chief Minister MK Stalin.

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