Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Sunday described the forthcoming general elections as a war to protect democracy and asked people to exercise their franchise against arbitrary forces.
“If you vote for AIADMK candidates, welfare of the Tamil Nadu people will be protected. If you vote for other parties, then welfare of those parties will only be protected,” she quipped, while addressing a campaign rally here in support of party candidate A Arunmozhidevan.
Rejecting DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s allegation that AIADMK’s manifesto did not talk about measures to control prices, Jayalalithaa said, “AIADMK’s election manifesto clearly described price control measures under various headers, such as ‘Price fixation policy for petrol, diesel and natural gas’, ‘Export and import policy’ and ‘Comprehensive economic policy’.”
“When the Central government tried to sell the shares of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) to private players, it was due to my effort that PSUs of Tamil Nadu government bought those shares and prevented the privatisation of NLC,” she reminded the audience.
Recalling her political debut, Jayalalithaa said, “Thirty-two years ago, my political life began in Cuddalore. I joined the AIADMK in 1982. MGR asked me to deliver a speech on the topic ‘Greatness of Woman’ at a party conference in Cuddalore that year. So I am very happy to meet the people in the same place after 32 years.”
Coming down heavily on the repeated allegation of Karunanidhi that AIADMK sent karsevaks to Ayodhya, Jayalalithaa said, “Eyeing the votes of minorities, Karunanidhi has been levelling charges against the AIADMK of sending karsevaks. I had denied this charge many times. But, Karunanidhi was engaged in the Goebbels’ propaganda method as he has been repeatedly telling the lie that AIADMK sent karsevaks. There is no truth in Karunanidhi’s allegation.” She further said, “It was the BJP that sent karsevaks to Ayodhya. But Karunanidhi formed an alliance with them. From 1999 to 2003, DMK took part in the NDA government. If Karunanidhi was ideologically against karseva, why did he forge alliance with the BJP? What is Karunanidhi’s locus standi to talk about it now?”