‘False Narrative’: Sitharaman hits back at Stalin over paddy bonus

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday launched a sharp rebuttal to M K Stalin over the ongoing controversy surrounding the paddy bonus issue, accusing him of spreading a “false narrative” and attempting to create a divide between the Centre and states.The exchange follows claims by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister that a communication from the Finance Ministry had suggested reviewing and discontinuing the state’s paddy bonus policy. Stalin had also challenged the Centre to make the letter public, asserting that it supported his position.
Responding in a detailed post on X, Sitharaman emphasised that ensuring food security requires “constructive, continuous and positive engagement” among all stakeholders. She alleged that Stalin was misrepresenting facts while projecting himself as a champion of farmers.

Building food security requires a constructive, continuous and positive engagement on agriculture with all stakeholders.
However, CM Thiru @mkstalin appears to continue with what he and his party are good at— draw a wedge between centre and states, create false narratives… pic.twitter.com/SP7Ukqi0Si

— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) April 13, 2026

Taking a direct swipe, the Finance Minister said the Tamil Nadu government had chosen to “sensationalise” the issue rather than engage with the Centre’s broader policy suggestions aimed at strengthening agricultural sustainability. She underlined that India’s dependence on imports of edible oils and pulses exposes the country to global price shocks, making domestic production a strategic priority.Sitharaman argued that boosting the cultivation of pulses, oilseeds, and millets would not only enhance nutritional security but also reduce reliance on imports, thereby improving economic stability. She added that farmers stand to benefit from better price realisation in crops where demand-supply gaps persist.
Addressing Stalin’s challenge, Sitharaman said the communication had already been received by the state government and reiterated that the Centre had no objection to making it public. She accused the Chief Minister of misinterpreting the contents and engaging in “anti-Centre rhetoric” instead of focusing on collaborative solutions.“The communication to states is an invitation to share responsibility for national food security,” she said, urging the Tamil Nadu government to prioritise long-term agricultural resilience over political positioning.