DHARMAPURI: Chief Minister MK Stalin scorned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frequent visits to Tamil Nadu and dismissed them as of no use to the state.
“As the election draws near Prime Minister Modi has been making frequent visits, but the Tamil people see this as futile trips. These visits do not bring any development schemes to the state,” Stalin said at a function at the Dharmapuri Arts College on Monday.
“Our Prime Minister will only shower his affection to the people of Tamil Nadu during election. The people of Tamil Nadu are aware of this. But we (DMK) are with the people and the people are also with us. The people, government and the DMK are one family. For this we have been dubbed even ‘nepotistic’,” the CM said.
Stalin also flayed the central government for false assurances. “In 2019, the foundation stone was laid for the AIIMS in Madurai, but now they are saying that construction will begin soon. This play will end when the election ends,” the CM noted, while adding, “When Chennai and Thoothukudi were impacted by flood our Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not come here to see the people. Now he is making frequent visits and the people know that this is merely to seek votes”.
Stalin termed the recent reduction in domestic LPG price as a poll gimmick. “As the election draws near the price of LPG cylinders has been cut. The public knows that in the past 10 years LPG prices increased by Rs 500 and now only Rs 100 has been reduced. Isn’t this cheating?” he noted.
Stalin also blamed the Centre for being tight-fisted when it comes to funds for Tamil Nadu.
“PM Modi has assured that he would not ‘loot’ the money meant for the development of Tamil Nadu. But we have not received the GST refund of Rs 20,000 crore. The flood relief of Rs 37,000 crore which we had requested was also not provided. No fund has been provided for the second phase of the Chennai Metro project. A large portion of the funds for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is being provided by the state government. He is using our money to paste his stickers on projects,” he added.
The CM distributed `95.54 crore-worth welfare aid to 8,736 people under various government schemes during the event. He also inaugurated 993 works which were completed at a cost of Rs 350.50 crore and laid the foundation stone for over 75 works which will be completed at a cost of Rs 114.19 crore.
Speaking at the event, CM Stalin said, “Dharmapuri often reminds me of the Hogenakkal Drinking Water and Fluorosis Mitigation project. Every time I am reminded of my role in making the scheme come to fruition, I feel immense happiness in bringing clean drinking water to the people of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. Dharmapuri is also the place where Kalaignar introduced the ‘Mahalir Self-Help Groups’ scheme in 1989.
Schemes like Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Scheme, Naan Mudhalvan, Illam Thedi Kalvi, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, and Pudhumai Pennscheme are a grand success. People who had plundered Tamil Nadu over 10 years would never be able to bring schemes like these. The AIADMK government would never be able to achieve success as the DMK government has accomplished. The AIADMK government had tried to suppress the Hogenakkal drinking water scheme. People also clearly remember under which regime the Vachati tragedy occurred,” he said while also referring to a 1992 atrocity on villagers by security personnel and revenue staff.
PM Modi is set to attend functions in Salem, Kanniyakumari and Coimbatore later this week. This follows his visit to Chennai, Madurai, Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli in the last few weeks. In January during a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu he visited Rameshwaram and Tiruchirappalli.