CHENNAI, June 5 -- The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) said on Thursday that it will skip the June 8 meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), citing the sentiment of cadre and supporters after the "betrayal" of the Congress, which walked out of a two-decade-old coalition last month to back actor-turned-politician Vijay's government in Tamil Nadu. This is the first meeting of the grouping that DMK has skipped since its inception in July 2023. "In view of the sentiments of DMK cadres, who continue to feel deeply hurt by what they consider the betrayal committed by the Congress party against the DMK following the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, and in respect of those sentiments, the DMK will not participate in the INDIA bloc meeting to be held in New Delhi on June 8, particularly as it is a meeting in which the Congress party will be taking part," the party said in the statement. "While the DMK will not attend this meeting, it will continue, as always, to raise its voice on issues affecting the welfare of the nation that may be brought forward by the other parties participating in the meeting..." it added. Congress leaders declined to respond to HT's queries. Noting that the Dravidian party was functioning as a "central force" ever since the INDIA bloc was formed, the statement said DMK chief MK Stalin was the primary voice on key national issues. "This is well-known to the parties and leaders belonging to the INDIA bloc. The DMK courageously stood up and opposed everything that goes against democracy, secularism, rights of the state, including the NEET exam, delimitation, actions of the Election Commission, 'One Nation, One Election'. DMK has been actively raising these issues democratically arguing and fighting for them in the Parliament, in the legislative assembly while in power, in the courts of law and at appropriate times," it added. Stalin had earlier criticised the Congress for 'severing its relationship' with his party in a 'single day'. Stalin had said, "Congress MLAs who contested and won on behalf of the alliance did not come to Anna Arivalayam (the DMK's headquarters) to express their gratitude. In a single day, the Congress party left, severing its relationship with the DMK."...