PM Narendra Modi invokes MGR legacy at Chennai rally, attacks Congress
D Govardan, Shanmughasundaram J | TNN | Updated: Mar 6, 2019, 19:12 ISTPrime Minister Narendra Modi
CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced that the central government has decided to rename Chennai Central railway station after late Tamil Nadu chief minister M G Ramachandran.
Addressing an election rally at Kilambakkam on the outskirts of Chennai, Modi said MGR had worked extensively for the downtrodden. “He was not only a film icon but also a popular leader,” he said.
“The NDA government has promised to build 14,000 houses for Indian origin Tamils in Sri Lanka which is the birth place of MGR. Last year, we delivered 4,000 houses. Another 3,000 houses are under construction,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said he had the honour of being the first Indian PM to visit Jaffna. “I interacted with my Tamil brothers and sisters,” he said.
Modi went on to attack the Congress for dismissing the MGR government in 1980. “In fact, the Congress governments had repeatedly invoked Article 356 to dismiss state governments headed by regional parties that were not in tune with the Congress leadership. Fifty state governments were dismissed invoking Article 356 by Indra Ji (late PM Indira Gandhi).
Modi said in NDA, decisions were not taken by any high command in Delhi. “People are our high command. The NDA will ensure states’ needs are met. However, the Congress and its allies can never fulfil regional aspirations because the decisions are taken by the high command,” Modi said.
He said supporting the Congress and its allies meant the decision would be taken by people sitting in AC rooms in Delhi and not by those in villages in Tamil Nadu. “People of Tamil Nadu will never forget how K Kamaraj, the great leader, was treated and insulted by the Congress high command for opposing a family,” he said.
He said Modi hatred among the opposition was reaching new levels lately. “They have competition on who will accuse me more. And someone will mock my poverty. Someone will mock my lower caste origins and someone else will mock me being a tea seller,” he said.
“Now, one Congress leader talks of killing Modi. But I want to tell them I am not bothered. I am here to do my work. I am here to make India strong and prosperous. Every second, I breathe for India and Indians. I will only work for making India stronger till I die,” he said.
Modi said the Centre was planning to introduce flight announcements in Tamil at airports in Tamil Nadu.
Addressing an election rally at Kilambakkam on the outskirts of Chennai, Modi said MGR had worked extensively for the downtrodden. “He was not only a film icon but also a popular leader,” he said.
“The NDA government has promised to build 14,000 houses for Indian origin Tamils in Sri Lanka which is the birth place of MGR. Last year, we delivered 4,000 houses. Another 3,000 houses are under construction,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said he had the honour of being the first Indian PM to visit Jaffna. “I interacted with my Tamil brothers and sisters,” he said.
Modi went on to attack the Congress for dismissing the MGR government in 1980. “In fact, the Congress governments had repeatedly invoked Article 356 to dismiss state governments headed by regional parties that were not in tune with the Congress leadership. Fifty state governments were dismissed invoking Article 356 by Indra Ji (late PM Indira Gandhi).
Modi said in NDA, decisions were not taken by any high command in Delhi. “People are our high command. The NDA will ensure states’ needs are met. However, the Congress and its allies can never fulfil regional aspirations because the decisions are taken by the high command,” Modi said.
He said supporting the Congress and its allies meant the decision would be taken by people sitting in AC rooms in Delhi and not by those in villages in Tamil Nadu. “People of Tamil Nadu will never forget how K Kamaraj, the great leader, was treated and insulted by the Congress high command for opposing a family,” he said.
He said Modi hatred among the opposition was reaching new levels lately. “They have competition on who will accuse me more. And someone will mock my poverty. Someone will mock my lower caste origins and someone else will mock me being a tea seller,” he said.
“Now, one Congress leader talks of killing Modi. But I want to tell them I am not bothered. I am here to do my work. I am here to make India strong and prosperous. Every second, I breathe for India and Indians. I will only work for making India stronger till I die,” he said.
Modi said the Centre was planning to introduce flight announcements in Tamil at airports in Tamil Nadu.
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