Countdown has begun for exit of DMK govt, time has come for NDA govt: Narendra Modi | Chennai News

Sharing the stage with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and others, Modi said the alliance leaders have come together with a common resolve.

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the “countdown has begun” for the end of DMK govt in Tamil Nadu and the time has come for a ‘double engine’ NDA govt in the state.“Tamil Nadu is ready for change. Tamil Nadu wants freedom from the rule of DMK. Tamil Nadu wants a BJP-led NDA govt,” Modi said at a public meeting at Mathuranthakam near Chennai, marking the launch of the NDA’s election campaign in the state.

Sharing the stage with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, TMC president G K Vasan and other NDA allies, Modi said the alliance leaders have come together with a common resolve. “All of them are united to free Tamil Nadu from DMK’s rule and transform it into a developed, secure and corruption-free state. I can clearly see that the countdown to the exit of the DMK govt has begun,” he said.Pitching for a “double engine govt”, Modi said TN needed an NDA dispensation that would work in tandem with Centre to accelerate development and attract investments. “Tamil Nadu now seeks liberation from DMK’s misgovernance. Tamil Nadu now wants a BJP-NDA govt … We must free Tamil Nadu from the DMK govt,” he said.Modi invoked AIADMK stalwarts M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, praising the late former chief ministers for initiatives taken to ensure women’s safety, and said the NDA would carry forward that legacy.Though Modi chose not to name chief minister M K Stalin in his speech, he launched a scathing attack on DMK, accusing the ruling party of betraying the people. “They made many promises, but the delivery has been zero,” he said. Modi called the regime a “CMC govt” that promotes corruption, mafia and crime. “People have decided to uproot this govt,” he added.Touching upon the Thiruparankundram karthigai deepam issue, Modi accused DMK of being hostile to Tamil culture. “DMK and its allies did not spare even the court in a bid to appease their vote bank,’’ he said. He also recalled that jallikattu was banned during the Congress-DMK regime and said it was the NDA that lifted the ban.Targeting Congress, Modi said the NDA govt had allocated Rs 3 lakh crore to Tamil Nadu over the past 11 years, three times more than what the UPA had provided. He said railway funding to the state increased sevenfold, with 80 stations upgraded and Vande Bharat trains introduced. Farmers and fishermen in TN too have benefited from NDA policies, he said.Modi said the NDA govt was working for the promotion of Tamil. “Tamil always had a huge impact on me,’’ he said, adding that he gifted Thirukkural books to world leaders.During the course of his speech, Modi spotted a girl child waving a photo of his mother at him. He stopped the speech and asked cadres to collect the photo with the name and address of the girl. “Thank you, madam,’’ he told the child.