“Do not vote for this alliance or that alliance, but vote for the BJP for the better future of Tamil Nadu,” exhorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BJP election rally here on Sunday.
Recalling his campaign at Kanyakumari in the same ground two years ago during the Lok Sabha polls, Mr Modi expressed his appreciation and gratefulness for electing corrupt-free candidate, Pon Radhakrishnan, to represent the district in the Lok Sabha and in the Central government.
“It is because of Pon Radhakrishnan that Kanyakumari district has been sanctioned the commercial port at Colachel,” said Mr Modi, adding, that the preliminary works for the port project to tune of Rs 21,000 crore have been already started.
Further, taking the credit for the road development projects and bridges implemented in Kanyakumari district, the Prime Minister said that the ongoing road project to connect Kanyakumari with the Thiruvananthapuram airport would further enhance tourism industry in Kanyakumari district. It would ensure better livelihood opportunities for more number of poor families dependent on tourism industry in Kanyakumari, he reasoned.
Brushing aside the TN government’s claim of giving free rice for the poor, he said the Rs 27 worth per kg rice distributed free to the poor in the state was being supplied by the Central government. “We, however, do not paste our faces on the rice bags supplied to the poor brethren of Tamil Nadu like the Tamil Nadu chief minister,” added Mr Modi. He also reminded the people about the quick Central assistance sent to flood-hit Chennai victims.
Mr Modi assured free LPG supply to around five crore poor households in the next three years so that the health of the poor women would be taken care of. The Prime Minister added that his government in Delhi is ready with a plan to implement free medical care facilities for the aged poor to the tune of Rs 1 lakh crore.
Lashing out at the DMK-Congress combine, whose coalition rule at the Centre for 10 years from 2004 was filled with corruption, he came down heavily on the Congress for the helicopter scam, Mr Modi said that in the two years of NDA rule, they had brought to light the “acts of corruption” committed by the previous rulers and ensured a corruption-free and development-oriented administration in India.
The Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan and BJP national general secteray, Muralidhar Rao were present on the dais along with the BJP candidates contesting in the three southern districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
