R ARIVANANTHAM
TIRUNELVELI, APRIL 15
Addressing a public rally at Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the BJP-led NDA government is tirelessly working towards the development of the southernmost state of the country. Modi made a Tamil-centric pitch as he proposed to set up Thiruvalluvar centres globally, and labelled the Congress and DMK ‘sinners’ over ‘ceding’ Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka.
Campaigning in Tirunelveli. Family-run parties have tarnished Tamil Nadu's progress with corruption and scams. The people of Tamil Nadu are backing the NDA's good governance. https://t.co/SSSdtgjPW9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 15, 2024
Modi dubbed the DMK and Congress ‘anti-national’ and said the entire country has now understood the ‘truth’, that they had given Katchatheevu to another country after ‘cutting it off’ from Tamil Nadu.
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Not only did they keep “the people of Tamil Nadu in the dark, they told lies to them and committed a sin behind the scenes, Modi alleged.
“Our fishermen brothers get the punishment for the sins of the DMK and Congress,” he said, in an apparent reference to the frequent arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka.
This ‘sin’ of theirs remained hidden for four decades and it is the BJP that unravelled the truth and brought it to the attention of the people, he claimed. Following this, the DMK and Congress have just ‘gone silent’, he alleged.
Modi then went on to slam the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu over the alleged corruption and drug menace in the state.
He also accused the DMK of insulting the legacy of late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran and said the Dravidian party had ‘ill treated’ late AIADMK matriarch J Jayalalithaa in the state assembly, alluding to the unruly scenes in the House in 1989.
In an attempt to appeal to the cultural sensibilities of the people of the state, Modi pointed out that the BJP had released its manifesto on the day of Tamil New Year. He also said that his party has resolved to set up Thiruvalluvar centres across the globe.
“We worked day and night for Tamil Nadu’s development in the past 10 years,” Modi told the people gathered there, and exhorted them to vote for the saffron party, saying, “For those who love Tamil language and culture, their first choice is the BJP and so is the case with those who love the country.”
The prime minister said, “Initiatives like the Vande Bharat Express from Tirunelveli to Chennai have enhanced convenience and spurred progress.”
Initiating his interaction with the crowd, PM Modi extended his heartfelt wishes on the auspicious occasion of Puthandu. The PM also shared that the BJP has released its manifesto for the resolution of New India in the New Year. PM Modi confidently added, “People are regarding BJP’s Sankalp Patra as Modi Ki Guarantee card, promising free treatment for seniors over 70, expanding Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, and establishing India as a food processing hub. Additionally, BJP pledges to develop new production clusters for fisheries and promote seaweed and pearl cultivation among fishermen, all in line with Modi’s vision for a prosperous Tamil Nadu and India.”
“Today, the people of Tamil Nadu, as well as surveys, echo the resounding blessings towards Modi, leaving many puzzled. What they fail to grasp is Modi’s decade-long commitment to serving and winning the hearts of mothers and sisters. Emerging from humble beginnings, Modi understands the struggles faced by impoverished women first-hand. Upon assuming office, he dedicated himself to improving their quality of life, a mission that has greatly benefited the mothers, sisters, and daughters of Tamil Nadu,” the PM observed with humility.
Taking his firm stand on women empowerment, PM Modi thanked the schemes introduced by the BJP government through which “women in Tamil Nadu have gained new employment and self-employment opportunities. The Mudra Scheme alone has provided around Rs 3 lakh crore to Tamil Nadu residents, greatly benefiting women. Now, BJP’s manifesto promises to increase Mudra Yojana assistance from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh, aiming to empower 3 crore women as ‘Lakhpati Didis’. Furthermore, the manifesto pledges to provide training to 10 crore sisters from Self Help Groups in sectors like IT, education, and tourism, ensuring significant benefits for the women of Tamil Nadu.”
