The people of Tamil Nadu should vote for development in the May 16 Assembly election and demonstrate their stand against corruption by ridding the State of the two major Dravidian parties, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, winding up his campaign across the State here on Wednesday.
For decades, the people of Tamil Nadu have voted alternately for the two Dravidian parties — the AIADMK and the DMK. The State needs freedom from them for development and progress, said Modi.
Corruption is a major issue in Tamil Nadu, affecting the State’s progress, he added. “We need to get rid of this menace,” he said.
There is lack of power supply and non-availability of pure drinking water in the State. However, in the BJP-ruled States, both are available uninterrupted, he told an election rally to introduce BJP candidates.
People want houses, pure drinking water and electricity at home, schools and shops, he said. “If the people vote for the BJP’s lotus symbol, it will change the fate of the State,” he said.
“I have come here to free Tamil Nadu from the clutches of the two Dravidian parties,” he said.
Over the past two weeks, Modi has addressed rallies in Kanyakumari, Hosur and Chennai.
He is the first prime minister to visit Vedaranyam, the site of the Salt Satyagraha in 1930 led by freedom fighter C Rajagopalachari, coinciding with the Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi in Dandi.
On fishermen security, Modi said his intervention with the Sri Lanka government helped save the lives of five Indian fishermen who were to be hanged there. The development of farmers and fishermen are top priorities for the government, he added.
Farmer income “My dream is when India completes 75 years of Independence in 2022, the income of farmers should have doubled,” he said.
Modi took a dig at the DMK-Congress alliance. During the previous UPA government at the Centre, there were various scams, including 2G, and the people who looted the country through the scams are in Tamil Nadu, he said, making a dig at former DMK Ministers.
Tamil Nadu will also be the biggest beneficiary of the Sagarmala project for the maritime sector, the Prime Minister said.Modi introduced Vedaranyam’s BJP candidate SK Vedarathinam, who was elected as an MLA thrice from this constituency, representing the DMK. He joined the BJP last year.