‘A. Raja fought a lone battle to get his name cleared in 2G case’
Mr. Raja had brought in many development schemes for the Nilgiris district, says Minister for Youth Welfare Udhayanidhi Stalin
Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Monday that the Nilgiris MP, A. Raja, who is seeking reelection, had stood his ground, with the backing of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, to disprove the “false 2G spectrum case” foisted on him.
Mr. Raja fought all alone and tooth and nail in court to get his name cleared, he said at a rally held here.
Mr. Udhayanidhi highlighted the development projects that were implemented under Mr. Raja, including the Government Medical College and Hospital, drinking water schemes, and the reconstruction of the Udhagamandalam Municipal Market. He said the huge increase in the LPG cylinder and fuel prices indicated the failure of the BJP government to deal with issues affecting the common man. “Ten years ago, when the BJP came to power, the price of an LPG cylinder was ₹450; now, it is ₹1,200. It was [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi who put the price up by ₹800, but is now promising to cut it by a mere ₹100,” he said.
The Minister said that if the INDIA bloc was voted
Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin canvassing votes for the DMK’s Nilgiris candidate and current MP A. Raja, on Monday.
to power, the LPG cylinder price would be reduced to ₹500, and the petrol and diesel prices to ₹75 and ₹65 a litre respectively, as promised by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. He said a minimum support price of ₹35 would be given to small tea growers in the Nilgiris.
Mr. Udhayanidhi accused Mr. Modi of ignoring the people of Tamil Nadu. During the floods in Chennai, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, neither the BJP nor the AIADMK came forward to help the affected people. “Now, when he wants your votes, he [Mr. Modi] is visiting Tamil Nadu,” he said.
Woman interrupts
Mr. Udhayanidhi’s speech was interrupted by a member of the crowd, who said she had not received the ₹1,000 in monthly assis
tance that she was entitled to under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam.
He replied that a strict vetting process was in place to identify the beneficiaries. Explaining that strict vetting was being done to ensure that the benefits reached the most vulnerable, he said that for every one rupee Tamil Nadu pays in tax to the Centre, it receives only 29 paise. “Contrast it with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, both under the NDA, which receive ₹3 and ₹7 respectively in return for every rupee they pay in tax,” he said. The INDIA bloc should be voted in to ensure an equitable distribution of funds to the States for implementing more schemes and taking the benefits of the schemes already implemented to more people.