Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), February 7 Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday claimed that the "Dravidian model single-engine" government had achieved double-digit economic growth of 11.19 per cent, while the double-engine governments in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh could only achieve growth of 6 per cent.
Criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks about the "double-engine government," Udhayanidhi said that the double-engine governments in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were nowhere near Tamil Nadu's impressive performance.
"Modi sir, the Dravidian model single-engine government has achieved a double-digit economic growth of 11.91 per cent. But your double-engine governments in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are unable to achieve even 6 per cent growth – not even half of our achievement," he said, addressing a rally of the DMK youth wing in the southern zone here.
Udhayanidhi, who is the secretary of the DMK youth wing, also mentioned that whenever the Prime Minister visited Tamil Nadu, he would quote verses from the Thirukkural and meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
Referring to Modi's recent visit, Udhayanidhi said that the "double-engine government," which Chief Minister M K Stalin had described as a "dabba engine" (a useless or makeshift engine), was not needed for the state.
"During every election, some people open their shops just like shops that appear during festivals. Once the polls are over, they disappear like the shops that vanish after the festivals," Udhayanidhi said.
He alleged that the BJP made promises similar to those made by some people who trick children with promises of sweets or ice cream, thereby making the AIADMK their "slaves," and added that Tamil Nadu would "always be beyond Delhi's control."
He also criticized AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, allegedly for making a veiled reference to the DMK's rising sun symbol.
"Palaniswami can walk straight if he looks ahead. But if he looks at Modi or Amit Shah's feet and walks, he will only end up in a blind street," he remarked.
Indirectly referring to the Two Leaves symbol of the AIADMK, Udhayanidhi sarcastically commented that the AIADMK had transformed from being a branch of the BJP into its "leaves."
He said that the BJP was "annoyed and incensed" at the growing popularity of the DMK under Stalin.
Without naming anyone, he said that some groups lacking goals or principles were making noises.