CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Udhayanidhi Stalin hit out at the Modi government during an election rally in Chennai on Saturday.
The DMK leader campaigned for the party’s candidate in Chennai Central, Dayanidhi Maran, highlighting the Stalin government’s role in the welfare of Tamil Nadu.
“We used to say go back Modi before, but now we say get out Modi. It’s we DMK government who have implemented many good schemes in this constituency. I appeal to you all that how you voted and elected our MLA from this constituency, the same way you all should make our Dayanidhi Maran win from this Central Chennai,” Udhayanidhi Stalin said.
“Did PM Modi come for help during the pandemic or when we were hit by Cyclone Michaung. Has he done any good for our Tamil Nadu? Did he come to TN when Cyclone Michaung spread flood havoc? It’s our Dravidian model government and leader Stalin who gave Rs 8,000 to each household during hard times,” he added.
Vowing to cut down prices of gas cylinders and fuel, Udhayinidhi said, “10 years before, the gas cylinder price was nearly Rs 500 and now it’s doubled and now PM Modi has decreased it by a very low rate. We have promised that gas cylinder prices will be decreased to Rs 500 and petrol-diesel prices will also be decreased.”
“Our leader introduced free bus service for women. It’s our leader Stalin who introduced free tiffin for school students, where it’s implemented in 31 thousand schools in TN and 18 lakh students got benefitted and in Chennai alone, 61 thousand students got the benefit,” he said.
The DMK leader also vowed to avail exemption for Tamil Nadu regarding the NEET exam.
“I said we will get exemption for the NEET exam in TN. I take responsibility for that. Our Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that NEET will not be allowed if a state opposes it,” he said.
He further questioned the delay in AIIMS hospital in Chennai which was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.
“1000-bedded super speciality hospital in Chennai was announced by our leader and it was constructed within 10 months and is in operation now. But AIIMS hospital was announced years before by PM Modi but till now no single step is been taken to construct it. This is the difference between us and them (BJP). I have that one single brick with me which he laid and I will not return it till AIIMS is constructed in TN,” Udhayanidhi said.
Dayanidhi Maran, a three-time MP and incumbent from Chennai Central is fighting against the BJP-led NDA’s candidate Vinoj and DMDK’s B Parthasarathy.
All 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 19 in Lok Sabha polls that will be held in seven phases. Votes will be counted on June 4. In 2019, the DMK-led alliance swept the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, winning 38 of 39 seats. (ANI)