INDIA bloc at Centre will bring robust growth to State: CM
BJP has divided the people in the name of caste, creed and community; ‘We don’t want Modi’ slogan should resonate all over the country: Stalin
Only when the INDIA bloc forms the next government at the Centre will States, including Tamil Nadu, witness robust growth, DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Wednesday.
Speaking at an election meeting to seek votes for DMK candidate Thanga Tamilselvan, who is contesting from the Theni Lok Sabha constituency, and Sachidanandan of the CPI (M) from the Dindigul constituency, he said that for several reasons, the BJP should not return to power at the Centre.
“The country is in danger in the BJP’s hands. The people have been divided on the lines of caste, creed and community. Democracy is in deep trouble. There is an urgent need to save the nation. The slogan ‘We don’t want Modi’ should resonate all over the country,” he said.
Mr. Modi’s statement that the BJP would bring about a change in Tamil Nadu for good would never work, the Chief Minister said. “The people here are intelligent and would not be carried away,” he said.
Replying to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s allegation that the DMK was bent on destroying the AIADMK, Mr. Stalin said that such outside forces were not required as Mr. Palaniswami himself was sufficient to preside over the end of the party.
The very fact that Mr. Palaniswami had not been able to win elections after the demise of Jayalalithaa showed that he was a failure, Mr. Stalin said.
Takes dig at TTV Recalling remarks made by AMMK coordinator T.T.V. Dhinakaran against the BJP in the past, he wondered whether Mr. Dhinakaran had forgotten about them now to save himself from pending criminal cases, including those under FERA. Mr. Dhinakaran is contesting from Theni with the BJP’s support.
Describing the PMK as an opportunist for aligning with the BJP, he said that he would not speak any further as he had great respect for PMK founder S. Ramadoss.
The DMK, he said, had always stood by the principles of social justice and believed in preserving the democratic fabric.
The BJP and Mr. Modi had nothing else to speak about, and hence spoke continuously about corruption and dynasty politics, he said.
Stating that the AIADMK was the only party that gave opportunity to every member, its general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday said that voters will not fall for the “election gimmicks” of the BJP and the DMK.
Addressing a public meeting in Pollachi to canvass votes for his party’s Lok Sabha candidate A. Karthikeyan, Mr. Palaniswami said that the AIADMK had won people’s hearts during its 30 years in power.
“Someone is flying to the State [during the election] and doing roadshows. Has he given anything to the State? Will the people vote [for his party]? The people of Tamil Nadu are educated, and they know who has toiled for them,” he said, in an apparent attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
‘Family politics’
Taking a dig at DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Mr. Palaniswami said that the former’s party was like a corporate company based on family politics.
“Wherever Mr. Stalin speaks, his priority is to defame me and other AIADMK leaders. He does not have anything to say about the achievements of his government. Now, he
Wherever Mr. Stalin speaks, his priority is to defame me and other AIADMK leaders. He does not have anything to say about the achievements of his government
AIADMK leader
is seeking support for the INDIA bloc. It is his plan to plunder the Centre, too,” he said.
Alleging that the BJP State president and Coimbatore candidate K. Annamalai was making false promises, Mr. Palaniswami said that it was his party that showed a keen interest in implementing the
Nallar – Anamalayar irrigation scheme, a longpending demand of farmers in Pollachi. It was a matter of discussion between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, he said, adding, “As Chief Minister, I took the initiative and had a dialogue with the Kerala Chief Minister on the issue.”
“Annamalai is also raising the Cauvery water dispute [for votes]. Why didn’t his party try to resolve the issue when the AIADMK was an ally of the BJP and Karnataka was ruled by the BJP,” he asked.
Referring to alleged drug syndicate kingpin Jaffer Sadiq’s arrest by the NCB and his links to the DMK, Mr. Palaniswami said that drugs had become common all across the State.