Published Aug 17, 2025 | 2:47 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2025 | 2:47 PM
Tamil Nadu ex-Chief Minister MK Stalin. File Photo
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday, 17 August, launched an instant crop loan scheme under the Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) on a pilot basis in Dharmapuri, distributing cheques to 18 beneficiaries.
At the event, Stalin said the DMK would return to power in 2026 with “Dravidian Model 2.0”, aimed at taking the state “to new heights”. He described Tamil Nadu as a trendsetter in welfare, with schemes such as free bus travel for women and Magalir Urimai Thittam being adopted as models by other states.
According to him, since its launch, the scheme has enabled women to save nearly ₹50,000.
Responding to the Independence Day-eve address of Governor RN Ravi, the chief minister accused him of spreading “cheap politics” and attempting to discredit the DMK government.
Stalin alleged that the Governor mocked the Dravidian Model and Tamil language and “cooked up a non-existent Thirukkural” to malign the state’s cultural identity.
Rejecting Ravi’s claim of rising crimes against women in Tamil Nadu, the chief minister cited National Crime Records Bureau data to point out that BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh had reported the highest number of crimes against women.
He added that, “If law and order was truly poor in Tamil Nadu, how did we attract ₹10 lakh crore investments?”
