TNCC president K.S. Alagiri on Sunday said the Congress governments had been able to maintain national security during its rule for around 60 years.
Responding to leaders in the AIADMK-BJP alliance, who were praising the Prime Minister’s action against Pakistan, he said the country won three wars fought during the Congress regime. “The armed forces went into both West and East Pakistan at the time, and later liberated Bangladesh. We also attacked Karachi port,” he told a gathering near VOC Market here.
Campaigning in favour of DMK candidate M.K. Kanimozhi, Mr. Alagiri said the party would keep up its promise given in the election manifesto including NYAY scheme. “Some said MGNREGS cannot be implemented, but it was successful. The scheme will cost ₹3.5 lakh crore, which is doable. We have made the announcement after consulting with experts and economists,” he said.
Further, Mr. Alagiri said the proximity of DMK candidate Ms. Kanimozhi to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi was only next to Priyanka Gandhi.
He lauded the efforts of Ms. Kanimozhi in sealing the seat-sharing talks of the alliance. “She is grounded and simple,” he said.
He said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed to hail from a humble background as a tea-seller, he also wore a monogrammed suit worth ₹10 lakh with his name on it. “It would be understandable if a businessman did that. But the Prime Minister doing it is unacceptable when about 20% of the population is living below poverty line,” he said.
The BJP was trying to impose a single religion, language and culture across India, when the country was known for its secularism and diversity, he added.