Chennai (TN) / Thrissur(Kerala): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to be vigilant against forces that were trying to create mistrust and suspicion on the 10% quota for economically weaker sections in the “general category” in jobs and higher education. Addressing a BJP public meeting in Madurai, where he had come to lay the foundation for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Modi alleged that “self-centred forces” in Tamil Nadu were attempting to create mistrust on the new quota. In reality, according to him, the Central Government as only committed to providing opportunities in employment and education to all sections of the society.
“It was with this spirit, we brought the 10% reservation in education and employment to the poor among the general category in such a way that it did not impact the Dalits, Tribals and Other Backward Classes who are already getting benefits of reservation,” he said. But unfortunately a lot of negativity was being spread by those keen on creating suspicion over the intent of the Government. “Any political thought which opposes the poor cannot ever penetrate anyone,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that his government was taking effective steps to eliminate corruption and nepotism. “Any person who has cheated or looted the country would be brought to justice regardless of whether he is within the country or abroad,” he said warning that action will be taken against those involved in corruption in Government contracts, defence bills and welfare schemes. Modi alleged that the opposition has come together, “to remove this ‘watchman’ (him), keeping aside all other considerations.”
A few in the state were creating an “atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust” for ‘selfish’ interests, he said addressing a well-attended BJP rally here. He took a swipe at the proposed grand alliance of opposition parties, saying they had set aside their ‘differences’ to “remove this watchman” in the forthcoming Parliamentary elections. Earlier a war of sorts broke out on Twitter with those opposing the PM’s visit tweeting with the hashtag #GoBackModi and his supporters hitting back with the hashtag #TNWelcomesModi.
MDMK leader Vaiko staged a black flag protesting and Modi’s visit and also set off black balloons in the air as a mark of protest. Later in Kerala, dubbing the opposition as a “corrupt house”, PM Modi on Sunday said in the last four years, people in Delhi have made him a “chowkidhar”. “As long as I am there in Delhi, I will not allow any kind of corruption and will not allow the nation’s unity and integrity to be destroyed,” said Modi, addressing a mammoth rally of his party workers here.
After inaugurating the meeting of the state Yuva Morcha, he said: “My friends in the opposition are bankrupt when it comes to development of the nation. All they have is hatred against Modi. Their day begins by abusing Modi and ends by again abusing Modi. All I wish to tell them is ‘you may abuse me, but please don’t mislead the farmers, youth and the poor’ and don’t destroy the great nation and its progress,” said Modi.
Speaking against both the ruling CPI-M led government and the Congress-led opposition in Kerala, Modi said the cultural ethos of Kerala has been destroyed. “The issues in Sabarimala was watched across the country and saw the way the CPI-M was disrespecting all aspects of Kerala’s culture. Why is the CPI-M undermining our culture? The Congress here also is no different, as they say one thing in Delhi and another here. None of these two parties have any respect for gender justice,” said Modi.
The PM pointed out that so many ministers of the Left government in Kerala had to resign due to corruption. The PM pointed out that so many ministers of the Left government in Kerala had to resign due to corruption. “For the Congress led UDF, the solar scam was there. For the Congress, solar is used for scam, while we use solar for development of the nation. The Congress here made ISRO scientist S. Nambi Narayanan, a spy and used the case to settle political scores amongst themselves, while we honoured him with a Padma award. We really value science,” added Modi.
