Stalin to visit Arittapatti today

Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday lashed out at BJP-led govt at the Centre, saying itcould not tolerate development in Tamil Nadu and was unleashing a socio-political invasion of the state.
The DMK organised a public meeting to mark Language Martyrs Day in Chennai. Addressing the meeting, Stalin said, "The progress we have made today was not achieved easily. We fought for social justice for 100 years."
Stalin listed some of Tamil Nadu's achievements such as the state being the second most developed economy in India; the increase in its share in GDP from 5.4% to 9.21% in the last four years; the 'Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam' scheme receiving an UN award; and the lowest percentage of people living below poverty line.
"The development is not liked by various dominant forces. They are destroying state autonomy to stop this development. Hindi is being imposed everywhere. They refuse to give funds. In toto, the BJP is unleashing a political-economic-socio-cultural invasion of Tamil Nadu, but the DMK government is fighting against it without fear," said Stalin.
Stalin again raised the issue of why an elected CM could not be the chancellor of state-run universities. "How can a governor appoint vice-chancellors for our universities, which were established with state funds and the hard work of our people? My question here is that we donated land for constructing universities and developed them by paying salaries for the staff, but can't we appoint vice chancellors," Stalin asked.
Stalin said when states build universities, shouldn't state govts have the authority to administer, lead, and head universities.
He said since the BJP govt at the Centre was trying "to impose Hindi as the third language" through higher educational institutions, DMK students' wing, along with party MPs, will soon protest in Delhi.
Earlier, Stalin inaugurated a renovated memorial for linguistic martyrs T Thalamuthu and L Natarajan, constructed at a cost of 34 lakh in Moolakothalam in Chennai.
Stalin paid his respects to them and raised slogans that the DMK will not let Hindi be imposed on Tamil Nadu. Stalin announced that statues will be constructed for Thalamuthu and Natarajan at the Thalamuthu-Natarajan building in Egmore in Chennai.
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin is scheduled to visit Melur on Sunday, days after the Union mines ministry annulled the auction of the Nayakkarpatti tungsten mining auction, which evoked huge protests from the locals. Since he would be visiting Melur, Stalin would not be able to attend Governor R N Ravi's At Home reception in Raj Bhavan on Republic Day.
Stalin will take part in the Republic Day celebrations on the Marina beachfront on Sunday morning before leaving for Madurai. "The chief minister will visit the villagers of Arittapatti and A Vallalapatti in the afternoon," said a source.
On Saturday, the local representatives from Melur met the chief minister at the Secretariat and extended gratitude for the passage of the anti-tungsten resolution unanimously in the recent assembly session.
"Even after we held protests, the Union govt gave up only in the end. It was the chief minister who made it happen with his declaration that he would not allow the project as long as he was chief minister," said A Palaniandi, who led the delegation of villagers to thank the chief minister.
He said the chief minister accepted the invitation extended to him to visit the villagers on Sunday. TNN