Nirmala Sitharaman, Stalin feud online over Centre’s letter on paddy incentive

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin were, on Monday (April 13, 2026), engaged in a war of words on social media over a Union Finance Ministry’s communication to the Chief Secretaries of all States regarding incentives to paddy, which was issued on January 9 this year.

Mr. Stalin, during an election campaign in Thanjavur last week, contended that the Centre has advised the Tamil Nadu government to discontinue providing incentive for the paddy procured from farmers, claiming it was leading to excessive production. On Sunday (April 12) evening, Ms. Sitharaman rejected Mr. Stalin’s contention and termed it “baseless and politically motivated.”