Thoothukudi: The BJP national president Sri Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed the DMK-Congress combine for fielding “corrupt candidates” for the April 18 Lok Sabha elections in the state, adding, NDA's candidates are 'clean'.
Addressing an election rally here along with AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami in support of the BJP's Thoothukudi LS candidate Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, who is also TN BJP president, Mr Shah pointed out that the DMK-Congress combine had fielded 'corrupt candidates' like Ms Kanimozhi, A Raja and Karti Chidambaram in Thoothukudi, Nilgiris and Sivaganga constituencies respectively. But NDA has fielded “honest candidates” like Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan here, said Amit Shah.
Dismissing opposition's charge that the BJP-led Central government had neglected Tamil Nadu in allocation of funds and in other issues, Shah said that Modi-led government had allocated funds to Tamil Nadu to the tune of Rs 5,42,068 crore, as per the 14th Finance Commission recommendations, against the Rs 94,000 crore allotted to the State under the previous UPA regime. Shah promised more funds for Tamil Nadu if Sri Narendra Modi won a second term.
Amit Shah also pointed out that though only one BJP MP was elected from Tamil Nadu in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Tamil Nadu had two ministerial representatives in New Delhi, Pon Radhakrishnan and later Dr Nirmala Sitharaman, whose roots are in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP leader also did not spare the DMK-Congress combine for seeking to initiate talks with Pakistan when Prime Minister Modiji was sending a strong signal to Pakistan not to nurture terrorism on its soil against India.
Mr Shah also did not spare the Congress election manifesto released by Sri Rahul Gandhi today in New Delhi, particularly on the aspects related to Kashmir that Congress would relax the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in J and K if voted to power. Shah said Congress should also then clarify its stand on the statement of the National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, demanding for a provision in the Law for a post of Prime Minister for Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr Shah also expressed the hope, citing a pre-poll survey, that the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu would win more than 30 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats.
Earlier, the BJP leader was given a warm reception on his arrival here. He began his speech invoking the blessings of Lord Muruga of Tiruchendur and remembering the Pulwama martyrs and paying tributes to memory of MGR and Jayalalithaa.
Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami, who also addressed the election rally, slammed the DMK for its 'double standards' on the Sterlite issue.
Accusing the then Industries minister of Tamil Nadu M K Stalin for allotting 243 acres of land to Sterlite for its expansion plan, Palaniswami said that Stalin too stated in his speech at the state assembly on May 3,2010 that Sterlite was investing Rs 1,500 crore for its expansion project.
“The then DMK government's affidavit in favour of the company at the Supreme court resulted in the court approving the functioning of the plant,” said Palaniswami, adding, the drama enacted now by Stalin and Kanimozhi would not bear fruit for DMK in this election. He also urged the people to vote for AIADMK-BJP alliance to enable a strong and stable government led by Modiji at the Centre. Ends
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