Tamil Nadu polls: PM Modi targets DMK, Katchatheevu over corruption; calls ‘fearless’ remarks a badge of honour
File photo: Prime Minister Modi (Photo source: ANI)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, accusing its leaders of being involved in scams and failing to protect national interests while insisting that the NDA would form the next government.Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a massive rally in Madurai ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, said people are “determined” to bring the AIADMK-led NDA to power in the state.
“DMK is competing on scams, not good jobs”
Prime Minister Modi compared the DMK with former chief minister Kamaraj, saying Kamaraj set an example of honesty in politics, news agency PTI reported. “But DMK is a complete opposite example,” he claimed, listing what he described as a Rs 365-crore cash-for-job scam, a Rs 900-crore cash-for-job scam, a Rs 1,000-crore contract scam and a Rs 4,700-crore sand mining scam.“Usually ministers compete in good jobs. In DMK, they compete in scams,” he said, accusing the government of “stealing from the poor, youth and farmers” and claiming it had no moral right to continue.
kachatiu Jallikattu and “Congress-mukt” Tamil Nadu
Prime Minister Modi said Tamil Nadu was the first state to become a “Congress” by keeping the Congress party out of power for six years. He alleged that the Congress party “retaliated” by handing over Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in the 1970s and alleged that the DMK took no action at that time.Talking about the Jalikattu controversy, he said when the Congress-led Center issued a notification banning the sport with the support of the DMK, “by passing an ordinance, we ensured that Jalikattu can continue.” He also said that the Center respects Tamil culture by setting up Sengol in Parliament.
“No one in a democracy fears anyone”
Prime Minister Modi called it a “badge of honour” when Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin said the DMK was not afraid of the Prime Minister “even if the Prime Minister’s father comes”.“In a democracy, no one is afraid of anyone. So when someone says they are not afraid of me, they are not criticizing me; in fact, they are admiring my commitment to democratic values,” he said.
Law and order, women’s safety and housing
To quote the late Chief Minister J JayalalithaaPrime Minister Modi claimed that crimes against women were increasing and said families were being destroyed by drugs and alcohol. He promised that under the NDA government, “drug mafias and criminals will be put behind bars” and women’s safety and dignity will be ensuredHe also accused the DMK of delaying the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana (rural) survey, claiming that nearly 3 lakh houses were still pending. “Why are thousands of poor families suffering because of the DMK’s narrow-minded politics?” he asked.According to news agency ANI, during the visit, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of infrastructure projects worth Rs 4,400 crore. He also offered prayers at the Sri Subramanya Swamy temple in Tirupalankundram and met the family of a young devotee who died in last year’s Kartiga Deepam controversy.
