Tamil Nadu Fed Up With Corruption, Wants NDA In Power: Modi
Modi's visit to the shrine follows a controversy last year over lighting of lamp on the "deepathoon" (pillar) on the hilltop with the matter reaching the court
Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday mounted a strong political attack against the ruling DMK during his visit to Madurai, alleging unfulfilled promises, corruption and governance failures in Tamil Nadu.
Addressing a public gathering in the temple town, the Prime Minister claimed that the people of the state were disillusioned and were looking towards the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as an alternative. “Tamil Nadu is signalling a clear desire for change. Unfulfilled promises and corruption have disappointed the people,” he said.
Modi accused the DMK and the Congress of failing to harness Tamil Nadu’s coastal potential when they were previously in power together. Referring to projects such as the Maduravoyal elevated corridor and the Thoothukudi transshipment hub, he said key initiatives had stalled before 2014 and were revived only after the BJP-led government assumed office at the centre.
The Prime Minister also alleged delays in implementing welfare schemes. Citing the PM Awaas Yojana (Rural), he said over six lakh houses had been completed in Tamil Nadu, but nearly three lakh remained pending due to inaction by the state government.
Targeting the DMK leadership, he accused the party of promoting dynastic politics and neglecting civic infrastructure in Madurai, alleging corruption and administrative inefficiency. “The DMK steals from the poor, youth, farmers; such a corrupt government has no moral right to continue,” Modi said.
He flayed both the DMK and its ally the Congress on the ceding of Katchatheevu, an islet in the Bay of Bengal, to Sri Lanka. “For making it lose power, the Congress took revenge against Tamil Nadu by giving away Katchatheevu. Then, the DMK did nothing,” the Prime Minister said.
Earlier in the day, Modi inaugurated infrastructure projects worth over `4,400 crore and laid foundation stone for four-laning of the Marakkanam–Puducherry and Paramakudi–Ramanathapuram sections of key national highways.
He inaugurated eight redeveloped railway stations in Tamil Nadu and dedicated to the nation Chennai Beach–Chennai Egmore 4th Line.
