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Tamil Nadu CM Urges Newlyweds to Have Babies Amid Delimitation Concerns
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has urged newlywed couples to “immediately have babies and give them good Tamil names,” linking his appeal to concerns over the central government’s proposed delimitation exercise. He warned that the state’s effective family planning policies might inadvertently reduce its representation in Parliament if constituency divisions are determined purely by population size.
The proposed delimitation exercise has sparked concerns across Tamil Nadu. Stalin fears that states like Tamil Nadu, which have successfully implemented population control measures, could be penalized in this process. According to him, states that acted responsibly in managing population growth should not face a reduction in parliamentary constituencies.
In response to these concerns, Stalin has called for an all-party meeting on March 5 to discuss the matter. He has invited 40 political parties registered with the Election Commission, stressing that the issue extends beyond political differences and affects the entire state. He emphasized the need for unity in opposing any move that could disadvantage Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister also criticized the central government’s National Education Policy (NEP), seeing it as an attempt to impose Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states. He reiterated Tamil Nadu’s firm opposition to the NEP and any form of Hindi imposition, asserting that the state would not accept policies that undermine its linguistic identity.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed Stalin’s concerns, asserting that no southern state would lose parliamentary seats due to delimitation. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured that the process will ensure fair representation, and some states may even gain constituencies based on proportional population growth. A BJP spokesperson criticized Stalin’s remarks, calling them a “desperate and dishonest diversionary tactic.”
Despite these assurances, Stalin remains firm in his stance against delimitation based solely on population size. He believes such a move would unfairly reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation, affecting its influence in national policymaking. His call for increased childbirth among newlyweds reflects his determination to protect Tamil Nadu’s political standing and prevent its responsible population policies from leading to diminished representation.
