INDIA bloc can never bring development to Tamil Nadu: Modi

MADURAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed a public meeting in Kanyakumari on Friday, said the INDIA bloc can never bring development to Tamil Nadu.

“The INDIA coalition has series of scams against its name while BJP can boast of projects. When we have Khelo India, they have Commonwealth Games scam,” he said.

Former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee had brought the Golden Quadrangle project. A portion of it in Kanyakumari had been pending till BJP returned to power in 2014, he said. The Parvathipuram – Marthandam bridge, a long pending demand, was completed in BJP rule and a double railway bridge -- another long pending demand – would be completed soon, said Modi.

BJP government is bringing more and more infrastructure projects to Tamil Nadu, said Modi and highlighted how he laid foundation stone for Tuticorin Outer Harbour Container Terminal. In ten years, the central government has sanctioned Rs 50,000 crore highway projects in Tamil Nadu and another Rs 70,000 crore projects are under way.

The Congress – DMK rule between 2009 and 2014 was sanctioning Rs 800 crore for railway projects in Tamil Nadu but BJP sanctioned Rs 6,300 crore to the state, said Modi.

DMK is against the culture and tradition of Tamil Nadu. When Ayodhya temple was consecrated, DMK boycotted it and even banned telecast. The Supreme Court intervened. DMK even boycotted the Sengol ceremony, the pride of Tamil and Tamil kings, in the newly inaugurated parliament, he said.

The Prime Minister narrated in detail saving five Tamil Nadu fishermen sentenced to death in Sri Lanka. “How could I sleep after learning that?” asked Modi to the crowd and said that he had taken the diplomatic channel and secured the release of fishermen from Sri Lanka.

He accused DMK and Congress for the fishermen crisis. “It is the sin of DMK that is affecting fishermen who must cross to Sri Lankan waters for a livelihood,” he said.

BJP government would stand with the fishermen and fishermen would not tolerate this anymore. Time has come for Congress and DMK should answer for their sins, he said.

“BJP government at the Centre is for the empowerment of women. DMK is only known to insult women, but BJP gives power to women,” he said.

The Prime Minister also announced that the people of Tamil Nadu can listen to his speech on his X platform. He said he had decided to use artificial intelligence and technology to communicate with Tamil people in Tamil and he urged them to follow the Tamil handle of Namo In Tamil.

Union minister of state for fisheries, dairy and broadcasting L Murugan, former minister Pon Radhakrishnan, BJP state president K Annamalai and actor-politician Sarath Kumar and former Congress MLA Vijayatharini were present on the stage.


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