Welcome Rahul, present the new India with a dawn, says DMK supremo Stalin

DMK leader M.K. Stalin accuses PM Modi of misusing power, challenges him on various issues in Coimbatore election meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is normally on a foreign tour, has chosen to take an inland tour of India because it is election time and he needs votes to remain in power, DMK leader and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has said at an election meeting in Coimbatore, sharing the stage with Rahul Gandhi, on Friday.

He commenced his speech by saying “Rahul Avargale Varuga - Pudhiya Indiavukkana Vidyalai Tharuga” (Welcome Rahul, present the new India with a dawn).

“Prime Minister Modi, by harping on dynasty politics and corruption, has not insulted the DMK or the Dravidian model of governance, but has gone on to insult the electorate of Tamil Nadu. Anyone can come to politics, whether to accept them or not is the choice of the people. I have answered Mr. Modi umpteen number of times but since he has nothing to showcase as his achievements, Mr. Modi was resorting to such lashing speeches at the DMK,” Mr. Stalin charged.

Mr. Stalin alleged that Mr. Modi was misusing Central agencies, such the ED, the Income Tax Department and the CBI “to extort cash from businessmen in the form of electoral bonds.” When asked about PM Cares, the stock reply is that it is a separate trust, he said.

Reiterating his charge that the AIADMK and the BJP are in a secret alliance, Mr. Stalin said, “’Back-stabber’ Palaniswami was contesting the election without any clue on who should rule India. But the DMK has so many flagship schemes that speaks volumes about the party’s two years of governance.”

He challenged Mr. Modi to speak about the CAG report on “seven schemes and seven lakh crore rupees — Mega scam.“ Why were the CAG officials, who raised these queries, shifted? Mr. Stalin asked.

According to the DMK leader, Mr. Modi was yet to respond to queries on the Rafale jet ‘scam’ posed by the Congress. When Rahul raised the corporate tax waiver issue in the Parliament, Mr. Modi indulged in a personal attack on him.