Madurai (Tamil Nadu), March 1 Prime Minister Narendra Modi aggressively targeted the ruling DMK on Sunday, accusing it of corruption, scams, dynastic rule, and insensitivity towards people's sentiments regarding the Thirupparankundram lamp-lighting issue. He asserted that the devotees would ultimately prevail.
Addressing a massive NDA election rally, Modi invoked the welfare-centric legacies of AIADMK icons M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, expressing confidence that the NDA would win the upcoming Assembly elections and form the government. The AIADMK currently holds a significant lead over the NDA in Tamil Nadu.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, AMMK founder TTV Dhinakaran, and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss were among the alliance party leaders who attended the mega event in this southern city and lauded Modi's leadership while criticizing the DMK.
While K. Kamaraj, a prominent figure from the Congress party, was known for his honesty, the DMK, the ruling party, stood in stark contrast, he said. PM Modi accused the Congress party of "revenge" against Tamil Nadu by "giving away Katchatheevu" to Sri Lanka. Immediately following the rally, NDA leaders met to discuss issues, including the next meeting with PM Modi in Tamil Nadu.
Earlier, the PM inaugurated infrastructure projects worth over ₹4,400 crore in the state, stating, "Our collective goal is a developed Tamil Nadu for a developed India. Every Indian is motivated to build a developed nation by 2047. Tamil Nadu will play a decisive role in shaping the nation's destiny."
At the NDA rally, the PM stated, "My heart feels heavy," referring to a devotee who recently died seeking the right to light the lamp at the Deepathoon on Thirupparankundram hill. The devotee, Poornachandran, took this extreme step due to the perceived "insensitivity" of the DMK government, and the PM asserted that the truth would ultimately prevail and devotees of Lord Murugan would win.
He further stated that he had met with the deceased devotee's wife, Indumathi, as well as his sons. He offered prayers at the Thirupparankundram temple and later addressed the election rally.
Targeting the DMK for alleged corruption, poor governance, and dynastic politics, Modi accused them of bringing "mafia-style politics" to Madurai. He stated that they had created bad roads, poor drainage, and lacked effective waste management. They had also placed Madurai at the bottom of the national ranking in cleanliness.
Modi listed numerous allegations, including a ₹365 crore cash-for-transfer scam, a ₹900 crore cash-for-job scam, a ₹1000 crore cash-for-contract scam, a ₹4700 crore sand mining scam, a ₹40,000 crore TASMAC scam, and more.
"But who are they stealing from – from the poor, from the youth, from the farmers? Such a corrupt government has no moral right to continue. That's why the people of Tamil Nadu have decided to bring in an NDA government. We will provide clean and efficient governance," he said.
Further, he stated, "Some are dreaming of returning to power in Tamil Nadu, but when they see this massive NDA rally, their dreams will turn into nightmares. The people know that the state elections are a turning point for the state."
The PM said today that the women of Tamil Nadu are in deep trouble due to rising crime. "We hear of crimes against women," he said. "Women see their families destroyed by drug mafia and alcohol."
"They remember how much better their lives used to be under Amma Jayalalithaa's rule. I assure every mother, sister, and daughter of Tamil Nadu that as soon as the NDA government comes in, we will focus on law and order, and criminals and drug mafias will be behind bars. The NDA will ensure your safety, dignity, and empowerment," he asserted.
Tamil Nadu has kept the Congress party out of power for six decades. "You were the first state to become Congress-mukt (free from Congress). For this, Congress took revenge against Tamil Nadu. It was Congress that gave away Katchatheevu, and then the DMK didn't do anything," he said.
The Congress-DMK government at the center banned Jallikattu, and the BJP regime lifted the ban, showing respect for Tamil culture and placing the "Sengol" as a symbol of honor in the Parliament.
Modi stated that the DMK neither works for the poor nor allows others to work, citing the PM Awaas Yojana (Rural), under which over six lakh houses have been completed in Tamil Nadu.
"These families have their own homes. But at the same time, nearly three lakh houses remain pending because the DMK government is not conducting surveys and is delaying the process. Why should lakhs of poor families suffer for DMK's petty politics?" he asked.
The PM concluded his address by repeatedly chanting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram."
Interestingly, a popular melodious song "Oru Koottu Kiliyaga" from an old Sivaji Ganesan film was played at the end of the public meeting. The song's theme was broadly about unity and looking up to the "elder brother" for guidance.
Social media was abuzz debating Modi choosing to address the people in English while he had previously, including at his Madurantakam meeting in January, used Hindi.
Taking a dig at the ruling DMK government, Palaniswami appealed to the gathering to end DMK's family rule and ensure the victory of the NDA in the upcoming assembly polls.