Thoothukudi MP and DMK Deputy General Secretary, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, responded sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks on ‘poster politics,’ accusing the BJP of claiming credit for schemes largely funded by state governments.Speaking to media at the city airport upon her return from Thoothukudi, where she shared a platform with PM Modi, Kanimozhi highlighted the disparity between central government allocations and state contributions to schemes like the housing program, which bear the Prime Minister’s name. She emphasized that while the union government provides only a fraction of the funds, it prominently brands the schemes under the PM’s name, implying BJP’s penchant for “pasting stickers” for political mileage.
“The union government allocates only a fourth of the funds. About 75% is provided by the Tamil Nadu government. Nothing can be constructed using the Rs 70,000 provided by the union government. However, the scheme is named after the Prime Minister. As far as I know only the BJP is pasting stickers and projecting it as PM’s scheme,” Kanimozhi remarked, sarcastically suggesting that other states’ MPs wonder why schemes are not named after respective Chief Ministers.
Critiquing the union government’s reluctance to release flood relief assistance for Tamil Nadu, Kanimozhi reiterated that the state government remains committed to its projects despite the delays in central aid.
Responding to inquiries about a newspaper advertisement allegedly featuring the flag of China sponsored by a state minister, Kanimozhi pointed out the BJP’s heavy spending on advertisements but noted that she hadn’t seen the party use the national flag extensively. She defended her party colleague by referencing the Modi-Jinping summit held at Mamallapuram.
When asked about PM Modi’s remark predicting the DMK’s obliteration after the Lok Sabha polls, Kanimozhi remained unfazed, stating, “Many people who claimed to decimate the DMK have vanished. I have seen it. DMK still exists.”