Campaigning in Tamil Nadu has entered a high pitch mode with the DMK-Congress’ joint election campaign unleashing a no-holds-barred attack on the Modi Government at the Centre and the ruling AIADMK Government in the State. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who shared the stage with DMK chief M Karunanidhi in a joint election rally at Chennai on Thursday blamed the AIADMK Government of inefficiency and misrule. “Development of Tamil Nadu has come to a standstill since 2011. Farmers in the State are forced to commit suicide due to a number of reasons arising out of the failure of the State Government,” charged Sonia while addressing a well-attended election rally at the famous Island Grounds in Chennai.
Praising the Karunanidhi-led Government which ruled the State during 2006 to 2011, Sonia said Tamil Nadu was one of the fast-growing States in the country under the DMK dispensation. “Every day we saw the opening of a new factory in the State. Many industries set up manufacturing facilities in the State during the five years of the DMK rule. But after 2011 what we saw was the closure of all the factories and the industrialists leaving for neighbouring States for a host of reasons,” she said. Sonia said thousands of educated youth have ended up as unemployed because of the closure of the industrial units.
Sonia said Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was forced to shift her stance on prohibition following the firm and uncompromising position of the Congress and the DMK in their demand for prohibition in the State. “Our commitment is for the welfare of the weaker sections, minorities and the downtrodden. We do not make any tall promises but we take our manifestos seriously,” she said. What was unique about Sonia’s speech was that she did not mention the name of Jayalalithaa even once in her short but sharp speech.
Sonia blamed the AIADMK Government for amending the land Acquisition law enacted by the UPA Government. “Because of the amendment introduced by the AIADMK Government, Tamil Nadu farmers are at a disadvantage. Their land could be taken over by the Government without their permission and they stand to lose the fair compensation,” she said.
The Congress president blasted the Modi Government at the Centre for its scant regard to the interests of the fishermen from Tamil Nadu. “While the fishermen from Tamil Nadu are kidnapped and their boats are seized, the Modi Government is allowing foreigners to fish in Indian seas,” she charged.
Karunanidhi in his speech said that the DMK and Congress has been natural allies since the days of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who had a special affection for the State. “Ours is an alliance for the welfare and progress of the people. We only can provide a corruption-free and transparent Government,” said Karunanidhi.
Earlier addressing an election rally at Puducherry which also goes to the polls on May 16, the Congress chief came down heavily on the BJP, the All India NR Congress and the AIADMK for spoiling and derailing the good works done by the previous Congress Governments at the Centre for the progress of Puducherry.
“The previous Government led by Manmohan Singh took extra care in successfully implementing and executing all central government sponsored schemes in the Union Territory. But the present Government led by the AINRC at Puducherry and the union government led by the BJP has been ignoring all welfare measures and development of Puducherry has come to a standstill,” said Sonia Gandhi.
She blamed the BJP government at the Centre for not granting any schemes or projects for Puducherry. “All women self help groups launched by the Congress government in the union territory arr dead. Fishermen and farmers are suffering because of the BJP government at the Centre. The AINRC is an opportunistic party. It had no qualms in joining hands with the BJP and the AIADMK much to the anguish of the people of Puducherry,” charged the Congress President.
She also blamed the union government for ignoring the woes of the people of Puducherry which suffered heavily during the December floods. “The Modi government at the Centre is insensitive to the problems faced by the people of Puducherry. I am shocked that the union government has not brought any new railway schemes to Puducherry during the last two years,” said Sonia Gandhi.