Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves at supporters during a public meeting ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, at Nandanam YMCA Ground in Chennai, on Monday.
Credit: PTI Photo
Chennai: Amidst a controversy over the alleged involvement of DMK functionary in an international drug smuggling racket, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the ruling party of allowing “uncontrolled sale” of drugs in Tamil Nadu and promised action against those involved provided the people of the state strengthened the BJP.
Addressing a public meeting organised by BJP here, Modi tore into Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his 'Sanatana Dharma' remarks, accusing the I.N.D.I.A bloc of being dynasty oriented, and spoke of his guarantees to the people of Tamil Nadu.
Replying to the “no family” jibe by RJD patron Lalu Prasad Yadav, the prime minister said the people of the country were “his family” as he left his own at the age of 16.
PM Modi talking about the alleged involvement of A K Jaffer Sadiq -- who was part of the DMK’s NRI wing and a film producer -- in the drug cartel, is significant as the BJP and opposition parties like AIADMK have taken up the issue in a big way to put the ruling DMK dispensation on the mat.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has been seeking “answers” from the DMK, while the AIADMK organised protests across the state on Monday.
“With the ruling party’s blessings, drug smuggling and sale is uncontrolled in Tamil Nadu which makes me worry about the future of children. If you strengthen the BJP, we will make sure of your safety and take action against those involved. This is Modi's guarantee,” the Prime Minister said.
Though the DMK expelled Sadiq from the party immediately after his name cropped up in the scandal, the ruling party hasn’t come clean on the issue with the Opposition alleging the accused was part of the NRI wing and had met Chief Minister Stalin and Udhayanidhi several times in the past.
Meanwhile, PM Modi, in his third public meeting in the state in a week, said while “family comes first” for the ruling DMK and its alliance partners of the I.N.D.I.A bloc, it is “nation that comes first” for Modi.
“INDI alliance now says I don’t have a family. This is their new formula to attack me. I left my home when I was 16 years old. Why did I leave my home? To serve this nation. This nation is my family. Whoever is alone, abandoned, or alienated also belongs to Modi, and Modi belongs to them. That’s why the whole nation is saying, ‘I belong to the Modi family’,” he said.
Without naming Udhayanidhi, the Prime Minister referred to the Supreme Court rapping him for his Sanatana Dharma comments, and said a person who is an integral part of dynastic politics of this state was pulled up by the court.
“These dynasts are arrogant and take government posts lightly. They deliberately hurt the beliefs of people,” the Prime Minister said
He also accused the DMK of being upset as it is not “being able” to loot from Central schemes as they reach the beneficiaries directly. “If they can’t loot money, they want to at least put their stickers on Central schemes. I want to tell these DMK people that Modi will not let you loot the money meant for Tamil Nadu’s development,” he added.