Chennai: Undertaking a whirlwind tour of western and southern districts in poll-bound Tamil Nadu, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was living with the misconception that he could control the people of Tamil Nadu by controlling the ruling AIADMK.
“Modi thinks that just because he controls the AIADMK, he can control the people of Tamil Nadu. He does not realise that none can define the history, culture and expression of the Tamils but the Tamils themselves. That is why the Congress and DMK are opposing Modi. We will not let Tamil Nadu be ruled from Nagpur (RSS headquarters),” he declared.
Addressing election meeting in support of Congress and DMK candidates in Krishnagiri, Salem, Theni and Madurai, Rahul Gandhi sensing the anti-incumbency mood in the State said, “Tamil Nadu will be ruled from Tamil Nadu and (DMK president) Stalin is going to be the Chief Minister of the State.”
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He said Modi was unaware of the history of Tamil Nadu which did not believe in being remote controlled. The Congress leader said Modi”s demonetisation and “Gabbar Singh Tax” had ruined the textile hub of Tirupur and silk centre of Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu. Besides, the Prime Minister, he alleged, had lied before the 2014 election that he would deposit Rs 15 lakh each in the account holders of everyone.
Whereas the Congress, he said, has promised to give Rs 6,000 per month to the poor and will fulfil it. This money, he believed, would be utilised by people to make purchases such as clothes and mobile phones thereby spurring market and economic growth. “This will create jobs in the factories,” he said.
Rahul Gandhi charged that the Modi government was run only for 15 people in the last five years. “Anil Ambani, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi were Modi’s friends. But, he did not find time to meet the protesting Tamil Nadu farmers in Delhi. Under Modi’s rule, billionaire defaulters absconded and farmers, who defaulted in loan repayment, lived in fear of jail.
Nirav Modi took Rs 35,000 crore; Mehul Choksi took Rs 35,000 crore, Vijay Mallya took Rs 10,000 crore, and they all ran away,” he charged. “I have a question. Why is that, those who borrowed thousands of crore and ran away are not in jail, but when a poor farmer defaults, he goes to jail,” he asked.
