Tiruchi: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deceived Tamilnadu. The BJP knows it cannot set foot here. That is why they (Union government) are showing sudden affection towards Karnataka,” said DMK president M K Stalin today, delivering a scathing attack on the BJP-led Centre at a protest meet here against the clearance given for Mekedatu dam.
Speaking at the meet, Stalin clarified at the beginning that the protest by DMK and its allies against the Mekedatu dam was not politically motivated.
He said, “We are not protesting with elections in mind or for politics. Karnataka is always set on an agenda to prevent Cauvery water from coming into Tamilnadu. If the Karnataka government builds the dam across the Cauvery, then we will never get Cauvery water for sure.”
“Tamilnadu has no water already. Not even grass grows here now. Then how will the Lotus bloom?,” he said sarcastically, training his guns on BJP’s tagline of ‘Thamarai Malarum’ (Lotus will bloom). He added that the BJP has deceived Tamilnadu as they know that none of their antics would work here and they wouldn’t be able to set foot on Tamil soil.
Coming down heavily on Modi, Stalin said the Prime Minister is not concerned about Taminadu at all.
“Even weeks after Gaja cyclone, the Indian Prime Minister has not come to Tamilnadu. Would he done the same if a cyclone of such a scale destroyed the livelihood of thousands of people of another State? Some people say that Modi is never in India most of the time, then how will he come to Tamilnadu,’ said Stalin amidst cheers from the crowd.
Targetting the AIADMK government, Stalin said, “The reason for all the problems related to the Mekedatu dam issue is because of the Tamilnadu government. We can handle natural disasters like floods. But we will not stand quietly when a man-made disaster like Mekedatu is being orchestrated.”
MDMK chief Vaiko, who spoke earlier, said the Tamilnadu government is afraid of the BJP and Modi and that is why they were silent on the Mekedatu issue.
The protest meet was attended by leaders from the DMK and its allies, including S Thirunavukarasar of the Congress, Thol Thirumavalavan of the VCK, K Veeramani from the Dravidar Kazhagam.