In his strongest speech yet against the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre, DMK President and Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin proposed the candidature of Congress President Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate ahead of the 2019 General Elections.
Reminding Sonia Gandhi that Karunanidhi had deeply treasured the letter he had sent her following the declaration of Tamil as a classical language in 2004, MK Stalin said, “In 1980, my leader Kalaignar declared, ‘welcome daughter of Pandit Nehru, give a stable regime.’ In 2004, my leader Kalaignar declared first, ‘welcome daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi, India’s daughter should win’.”
Even as a smiling Rahul Gandhi nodded and acknowledged Stalin, in the style of his father and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, MK Stalin declared, “In 2018, now in this dias, on the occasion of unveiling Thalaivar Kalaignar’s statue, I propose we will install a new Prime Minister in Delhi, we build a new India. As son of Thalaivar Kalaignar, I propose the candidature of Rahul Gandhi from Tamil Nadu. Welcome Rahul Gandhi, give the nation good governance. Rahul has got the ability to defeat the fascist, Nazist Modi government. I appeal to my respected all party leaders on the dias, we will strengthen the hands of Rahul Gandhi, we will save this nation.”
Mincing no words, Stalin launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, calling the Prime Minister a sadist leader for his ‘indifference’ to the state of Tamil Nadu.
“Mr Modi is a ‘sadist’ Prime Minister who implemented schemes that are opposed by Tamil Nadu. I am using the word because of the severity of the devastation they have caused. 65 people were killed in the recent Cyclone Gaja. Rs 14,000 crore has been sought as compensation. It will take another 20 years for agriculture to return to normalcy. If such a disaster had struck Gujarat or Maharashtra, would Narendra Modi have visited or not? He did not visit because it happened in Tamil Nadu. The man didn’t come. He had lot of work. That too, he takes frequent foreign trips so there is no time. Did he express his regret or condolences? Is Tamil Nadu such a cursed state?” he slammed.
Citing the widespread condemnation that the Prime Minister received for not having tweeted on Cyclone Gaja, Stalin said, “Orlando in the United States witnessed a shooting on June 12, 2016. Prime Minister Modi tweeted to express his condolences to the families of the victims. When there was a forest fire in Portugal on June 18 in 2017, again he tweeted. But he refused to condole the death of those who were in Nagapattinam, Pudukkottai and Thanjavur that are part of India. That is why I openly accuse him of having a sadist mindset. Do Tamils deserve such indifference?”
“That is why we call for the defeat of Mr. Modi. A total of 21 parties have come together to defeat him. More parties will join,” he assured.
Warning the people that electing the BJP would turn the clock back 50 years to the past, Stalin said, “Instead of considering himself a Prime Minister elected by the people, he has the arrogance of a king ruling by virtue of hereditary rights. He considers himself not just as the Prime Minister, but also the President, Chief Justice of the country, the Reserve Bank, the CBI and the Income Tax department. That is why the opposition has come together against him. This is not to send Modi home, but to save democracy and do good for the nation.”
He added that whenever a Central government is formed with the support of the DMK, various welfare schemes were implemented such as the Sethusamudram project, the Chennai Port Maduravoyal expressway, the metro rail project, the Hogenakkal combined drinking water scheme, etc.
“Can the BJP government claim such an achievement? Can Prime Minister Narendra Modi list such achievements?” he questioned.
Explaining his opposition to Narendra Modi, MK Stalin said, “We are gathered here today to take oath to create an India, without differences, a secular India, without caste clashes, without bloodshed. We oppose Narendra Modi because there is a threat to religious harmony because of him. We oppose him because the Indian economy is ruins. There is a danger to social justice, the autonomy of states, laws, because of him. That is why we oppose him.”
Source: The News Minute