Modi leads tributes to Pulwama soldiers
On 2nd anniversary of attack, indigenous Arjun Main Battle Tank handed over to the Indian Army
CHENNAI: On his first visit to Chennai after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) affirmed its alliance with the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a raft of infrastructure projects, even as he paid tributes to 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers killed in a terrorist attack in Pulwama in 2019.
At Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Modi quoted Tamil philosopher Subramania Bharati to recall the Pulwama terror attack that took place two years ago, leaving 40 CRPF men dead.
“Inspired by his (Bharati’s) vision, India has undertaken a massive effort to become self-reliant in the defence sector,” Modi said after handing over the indigenous battle tank Arjun Mark 1A to the Indian Army. “A tank made in Tamil Nadu will be used in our northern borders to keep the nation safe. This showcases India’s united spirit – Bharat’s Ekta Darshan.”
The Prime Minister said the country was proud of its security forces as he paid tribute to the CRPF troopers killed in the terror attack in Pulwama two years back. “No Indian can forget this day. Two years ago, the Pulwama attack happened. We pay
homage to all the martyrs. We are proud of our security forces and their bravery will continue to inspire generations,” he said at a function. He said the country’s armed forces had shown time and again they were fully capable of protecting “our motherland”.
“Time and again they have also shown that India believes in peace, but India will protect sovereignty at all costs. Sainya shakti and dhairya shakti (strength and courage) of our forces are remarkable,” the PM said.Modi’s speech stressed “Aatmanirbharta” (self-reliance) in the defence and infrastructure sector and of the provision in the Union Budget for Tamil Nadu of ₹63,000 crore for Phase 2 of the Chennai Metro Rail. He said the Metro rail network was “one of the largest projects sanctioned for any city in one go”.
He praised Tamil Nadu’s farmers “for record foodgrain production and good use of water resources”, quoting Tamil poet Avvaiyar on water conservation, which he said was a global issue. Modi’s speech highlighting central schemes that have benefitted Tamil Nadu indicates that the BJP will adopt development as its main plank in the assembly elections due to take place in April-May. BJP chief JP Nadda affirmed the alliance with the AIADMK at a rally in Madurai on January 30.
Modi often quotes Tamil philosophers and poets at official functions on his visits to Tamil Nadu, his party’s defence against criticism that it is essentially a north Indian party. In January, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked Modi, the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, for allegedly disrespecting Tamil people. Modi announced that the Centre had accepted a demand by members of the Devendrakula Velalar community that they should be known by their heritage name, a day after a bill to modify the list of Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu was introduced in the Lok Sabha. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill 2021, proposed by the state government, would group together seven castes to be known as the Devendrakula Velalar. “I can never forget my meeting with representatives of the (community) in 2015 in Delhi,” Modi said. “Colonial rulers took away their pride and dignity... They told me they pleaded and pleaded with governments, but nothing changed. I told them one thing. I said that their name Devender rhymes with my own name – Narendra. I understand their emotions. This decision is more than a change of name. It is about justice, dignity and opportunity.”
Speaking on the longstanding problems faced by Tamil Nadu’s fishermen on the high seas, Modi said that during his tenure, more than 1,600 fishermen had been released after being apprehended by Sri Lanka. “Currently, there is no Indian fisherman in Sri Lankan custody,” he said.
He announced that the Jaffna Cultural Centre built by India would open soon. “The issue of Tamil rights has also been taken up by us consistently with Sri Lankan leaders,” Modi said. “Our government has always taken care of the welfare and aspirations of our Tamil brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. It is my honour to have been the only Indian PM to visit Jaffna.”
The PM inaugurated a 9.05km Chennai Metro Rail Phase-I extension, completed at a cost of ₹3,770 crore. He also laid the foundation stone for two projects — the renovation of the Grand Anicut Canal System, crucial for irrigation in the delta districts, to be taken up at a cost of ₹2,640 crore, and a Discovery Campus to come up at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras for ₹1,000 crore in the first phase. “These projects are symbols of innovation and indigenous development. These projects will further the growth of Tamil Nadu,” Modi said.
After reaching the Chennai airport, Modi took a chopper and a convoy by road to reach the venue where he was welcomed by AIADMK and BJP cadre. He caught an aerial glimpse of the ongoing Test match between India and England in the city’s MA Chidambaram stadium, a picture of which he tweeted.
“Though it was an official visit, Modi subtly kickstarted his campaign by kindling Tamil pride,” said political commentator Sriram Seshadri. “He talked a lot about how Tamil Nadu is part of the national stream by contributing to national building and economic progress. It lays the foundation for the political message he wanted to convey to the masses ahead of his upcoming political visits.”