Prime Minister promises stringent action against corruption over next five years
Modi lists various welfare schemes of the Centre and accuses the DMK government of attempting to loot the funds that the Centre allocates to T.N.; he also slams the INDIA bloc for ‘disrespecting’ the Hindu religion and showing disregard to the sacred Seng
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said stringent action would be taken against corruption over the next five years, and asked the people of Tamil Nadu to give the BJPled National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a massive mandate in the Lok Sabha election.
Speaking at a public meeting in Salem, Mr. Modi contended that the DMK and the Congress were two sides of the same coin as both the parties were involved in corruption and family rule. “Only after sending the Congress home, 5G technology grew. But in Tamil Nadu, the fifth generation [of the DMK] is coming to power,” he said.
Mr. Modi claimed that the Centre was allocating funds for development schemes to Tamil Nadu, but the DMK government was trying to loot them. “The development of Tamil Nadu is important, and stringent action will be taken against corruption. The DMK has lost its sleep because of the support that the NDA alliance partners have been receiving in the State...,” he said.
Taking a dig at the INDIA Bloc, Mr. Modi said that their motive had become clear after their first rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park. “They are attacking Hindu dharma and want to destroy it. They are disrespecting the Hindu religion repeatedly, but not raising a single word against any other religion,” he said, adding that the alliance showed its disregard to the scared Sengol when it was installed in Parliament.
Listing various development schemes brought in by the (Union) government, Mr. Modi said that of the two defence industrial corridors announced, one was for Tamil Nadu, and the State would also get a mega textile park.
“The Centre has given ₹260 crore towards railway infrastructure work in Salem region alone,” he said, pointing out that women had benefited from various development schemes brought in by the Union government.
Recalling the murder of the BJP’s State general secretary ‘Auditor’ V. Ramesh, who was hacked to death in 2013 in Salem, Mr. Modi said, “Mr. Ramesh was a hard worker who gave his life for the party. But he was murdered by antisocial elements...”
Indiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) founder T.R. Paarivendhar said people needed a change in Tamil Nadu, and not at the Centre. Due to the Prime Minister’s hard work, India has become the fifthlargest economy in the world, he added.
AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran said that for the next 30 days, everyone should work hard for the victory of the NDA in Tamil Nadu.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss said that his party had joined the NDA taking into consideration the welfare of the country. Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who was introduced as an AIADMK leader at the meeting, lauded the Prime Minister’s governance in the last 10 years. “The Union government under Mr. Modi was providing a lot of funds to the State, and through a single order, the Prime Minister had provided 11 medical colleges to Tamil Nadu,” he said.
BJP State president K. Annamalai urged everyone to follow the ‘Modi in Tamil’ social media handle.
Praise criticised
Meanwhile, DMK treasurer T.R. Baalu questioned the Prime Minister’s praise for late AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa. Though the AIADMK leaders had objected to Mr. Modi praising their late leaders, he was going about praising them, Mr. Baalu said, adding: “The people of Tamil Nadu have not forgotten that Jayalalithaa had posed – ‘Do you want Gujarat’s Modi or this lady from Tamil Nadu?’” Going by his praise, it looked like Mr. Modi would go and sit in the Jayalalithaa’s memorial and keep his eyes closed,” he added.