Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, said that stringent action would be taken against corruption over the next five years, and asked the people of Tamil Nadu to give his BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a massive mandate in the Lok Sabha elections.
Participating in a public meeting in Salem, Mr. Modi said the DMK and Congress party were two sides of the same coin as both were involved in corruption and family rule. “Only after sending the Congress home, has 5G technology grown. 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 these funds — an allegation similar to one he made earlier this month. “The development of Tamil Nadu is important. Stringent action will be taken against corruption. Because of the support the NDA alliance partners are receiving in the State, the DMK has lost its sleep,” he said.
I.N.D.I.A. alliance ‘disrespecting’ Hinduism
Taking a dig at the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, Mr. Modi said their motive had become clear after their first rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park. “They are attacking Hindu dharma and want to destroy it. Over and over again, they are disrespecting the Hindu religion. They are not raising a single word against any other religion,” he said, and added that the alliance also showed its disregard for the scared Sengol when it was installed in the Parliament.
Listing out various development schemes brought about by the government, Mr. Modi said of the two defence industrial corridors announced, one was in Tamil Nadu, while of the seven mega textile parks announced, one was for the State. “The Centre has given ₹260 crore for railway infrastructure work in Salem region alone,” he said.
The Prime Minister pointed out that women have benefitted from the various development schemes brought in by the Union government. “Women Shakti has turned into a protective shield for me and the BJP now. Over the next five years, more development schemes will reach them,” he said.
Murder of ‘Auditor’ V. Ramesh
When recalling about the murder of the BJP’s State general secretary ‘Auditor’ V. Ramesh, who was hacked to death in 2013 in Salem, Mr. Modi became speechless for a few minutes. He said Mr. Ramesh was a hard worker who gave his life for the party. “But he was murdered by anti-social elements,” he said.
Earlier, leaders of the NDA spoke at the meeting. Indiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) founder T.R. Paarivendhar said that people needed change in Tamil Nadu and not at the Centre. Due to the Prime Minister’s hard work, India has become the fifth-largest economy in the world, he said.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (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.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss said the PMK joined the NDA taking into consideration the welfare of the country. “Before our Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, Delhi was under the control of 90% of the lobbyists at every place. But those lobbyists have vanished due to the Prime Minister,” he noted.
Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who was introduced as an AIADMK leader at the meeting, said that the Prime Minister had provided historical governance for the past 10 years. The Union government under Mr. Modi, was providing a lot of funds to the State, he claimed. Through a single order, the Prime Minister had provided 11 medical colleges to Tamil Nadu, he recalled.
BJP Tamil Nadu state president K. Annamalai urged everyone to follow Mr. Modi on his Tamil social media handle, and share this with their friends.
Violation of rules
On behalf of the Congress, a complaint was lodged with Salem Collector R. Brindha Devi against Mr. Modi over violation of the Model Code of Conduct, as he had come by an Indian Air Force helicopter to attend the public meeting. The party said that the MCC prohibited use of State machinery for political campaigning.
