Ahead of polls, Modi vows to free Tamil Nadu from clutches of DMK, AIADMK

Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu: Asserting that Tamil Nadu wants to be free from the clutches of the successive governance of the AIADMK and DMK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday highlighted the developments in the BJP-ruled states to lure the people and added that the saffron party aims at eradicating poverty and upliftment of backward sections of the society.

Without naming either party, Modi said the two had come to power alternately, "sometimes this (party) and sometimes the other," and they had kept Tamil Nadu under their "control".

"People of the state want to be freed from them. And the turnout is a statement to that," he said addressing an election rally. He said corruption has "ruined" Tamil Nadu and that none of the schemes or their benefits would reach the poor if graft was not done away with.

Read: TN polls: BJP will develop Tamil Nadu, says PM Modi

Engaging the audience, Modi asked them if they had power supply 24 hours a day, to which they replied in the negative, and then alleged that people of the state had no access to clean drinking water despite 67 years of Independence.

However, the situation was not so in BJP-ruled states as they were focused on power generation, employment creation and ensuring other basic amenities like education and health care, Modi said.

The PM reiterated that development is the only solution for all of the country's problems and that it was the main aim of his party, the BJP.

Modi, who started his address in Tamil, said he had come to the southern state seeking votes for development. "My party's sole mantra is development. And vote for it to change the fortunes of Tamil Nadu. Give victory to BJP," he said.

Read: Is it end of two-party system in Tamil Nadu?

He slammed the previous Congress-led UPA government on corruption, saying two years ago newspapers and TV channels were abuzz with some scams breaking frequently.

"Corruption scandals used to tumble out and the country was concerned. They did not spare even coal even as there was corruption in 2G. They did nothing other than looting the country," he said.

Modi, who expressed joy on being informed that he was the 'first' Prime Minister to visit this part of Tamil Nadu, thanked the crowd for turning up to "bless" him and the party candidates.

The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to the welfare of the fishermen community and said that the Central scheme 'Sagar Mala' envisaged their overall benefit.

The scheme would ensure coastal development and included facilities for fishermen like processing centres and education for their children, he said. Modi recalled that he had recently given away e-boats to fishermen of his Varanasi constituency and said that it had saved them a lot on diesel.

The PM said his government was working hard to fulfil his dream of doubling farmers' income by 2022, the 75th year of Independence. He listed out various pro-people measures like Prime Minister's Crop Insurance, saying it will immunise them from vagaries of nature and the Mudra Bank scheme.

Economic measures like depositing subsidy for LPG cylinder directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts had resulted in eliminating over three crore bogus connections and saved hundreds of crores of Rupees for the government, he said.

Further, one crore people had given up LPG subsidy, which has enabled the government supply gas to poor, he said, adding various steps had been taken for ending corruption.

For instance, doing away with interviews for Class III and IV in government vacancies had resulted in eliminating brokers as aspirants used to pay them money for a job, he said.

Recalling his government's efforts to save five Indian fishermen from the gallows in Sri Lanka, Modi said he met those "children" today and was happy to do so. He had then taken up the matter with the Lankan government and was not only particular that their death sentence be reviewed, but that they be released and sent home, which was promptly done.

"The Central government partakes in your joy and sorrow," he said.