DMK leader and MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Friday said political parties aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party face a bleak future, describing the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s tie-up with the saffron party as a “betrayal alliance” that deceives both the state and its own cadre.
Campaigning in the Nilakottai Assembly constituency for DMK candidate Nagajyothi, she launched a scathing attack on AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, accusing him of heading a “betrayal alliance” that has misled the state and his own party cadre.
"No one who formed an alliance with them (BJP) has ever had a future. Maybe, they will send you as a Governor to some state. Choose which town you like. If you tell them now, they might send you," she said.
The Thoothukudi MP also criticised the AIADMK for its inconsistent stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying while Palaniswami previously supported the act and took action against protesters, he is now attempting to distance himself while remaining in a covert understanding with the BJP.
Kanimozhi dismissed allegations from the AIADMK-BJP combine that the DMK is anti-Hindu, citing the government's record in temple administration and restoration.
"Regarding temples in Tamil Nadu, they say we are born to protect the Hindu religion and that DMK is against Hindus. Who performed the consecration for over 4,000 temples? The Dravidian Model government, the Dravidian Munnetra Kazhagam government.
Whose government recovered over 7,500 acres of temple land? The government of Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin," she said.
She criticised the union government for replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with VB-G RAM G and "interfering" in the state's education policy through the three-language formula.
She claimed that the BJP was "stripping" rural workers of their livelihoods by reducing funds and centralising decision-making in Delhi.
Highlighting the DMK's welfare schemes, Kanimozhi announced that the current monthly women's entitlement grant would be doubled.
"The Women's Entitlement Grant will be increased to Rs 2,000. Similarly, for college students, we were giving Rs 1,000 through the Puthumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan schemes. From now on, it will be Rs 1,500," she promised.
She also introduced the new incentive for households, stating that the government would provide Rs 8,000 voucher for the purchase of home appliances.
"Our Chief Minister is saying, 'Buy what you want?" If you have a fridge, you don't need to buy a fridge; buy a grinder. For that, I am giving a coupon -- a voucher for Rs 8,000 will be provided," she added.
On local development, the MP promised the establishment of industrial clusters for the Dindigul lock industry and a new bypass road for Batlagundu.
She urged the electorate to vote for the 'Rising Sun' symbol to ensure the continuation of the Dravidian Model of governance, which she claimed has already benefited 54,000 people in Nilakottai through the women's entitlement fund alone.
(With inputs from PTI)
