AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami. (Photo: EPS/ X)
Asserting that “India is a secular nation”, AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “speaking controversially about Muslim people”.
“It is not appropriate for political party leaders and the Prime Minister of India, who holds the highest office in the country, to express such controversial views, as it does not suit the governance of India,” Palaniswami, a former chief minister, said.
This comes two days after Modi, speaking at a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara, said that the Congress, if voted to power, could distribute the nation’s wealth among “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”. “Earlier, when they (the Congress) were in power, they had said Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. This means they will distribute this wealth to those who have more children, to infiltrators,” Modi had said.
In a statement, Palaniswami said, “It is unacceptable to express opinions that would hurt the feelings of Muslim people. It is in the best interest of the nation and religious harmony for political leaders and those in high administrative positions to avoid such views. Such controversial opinions from political leaders create fear and provoke religious sentiments among minority communities. Speaking religiously divisive opinions, especially during election campaigns, goes against the principles of Indian governance. It must be completely avoided for the welfare of the nation.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had also criticised Modi on Monday: “Fearing public anger against his failures, Modi has attempted to whip up religious sentiments and resorted to hate speech to avoid what seems to be imminent defeat. Hate and discrimination are the real guarantees of Modi.”
Stalin also accused the Election Commission of India of turning a deaf ear to the PM’s remarks, and urged allies in the INDIA bloc to remain vigilant against the BJP’s “devious diversionary tactics” and to firmly expose Modi’s “miserable failures”.
Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority.
Expertise
Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews.
Key Coverage Areas:
State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor.
Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties.
Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu.
Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail.
His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More
2 min read
