AIADMK leader and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Wednesday promised to protect the interests of farmers in the western districts that stood threatened by the proposed Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) pipeline project.
Addressing her first election meeting in western Tamil Nadu this season, Ms. Jayalalithaa chose to touch upon the contentious issue as the livelihood of farmers in seven of the eight districts in western Tamil Nadu is under threat because of the project.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said that she had already written a letter to the Prime Minister on the issue and would ensure that the pipelines are not laid on farmlands.
“I am because of you; I am for you,” ( Ungalaal Naan; Ungalukkaga Naan ), Ms. Jayalalithaa said opening her speech on a suppliant note as she addressed an emotionally charged audience here that drove down in hordes from 11 constituencies across Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
Punctuated by brief snipes at the DMK, the AIADMK leader focussed on equitable growth and development, and claimed the income disparity has shrunk during her regime. Speaking of the multi-billion dollar Hogenakkal drinking water and fluorosis mitigation project, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the project was completed under her leadership.
She also condemned the DMK for its alleged false propaganda on the project and staking claim for its implementation.
“The project proposal was first floated in 1965 and a detailed project report was first tabled by MGR in 1985,” Ms. Jayalalithaa contended.
According to her, the project saw progressive fruitionduring her successive terms and finally came to operation in 2013 during her term.
In her 45-minute speech, she listed out the various infrastructural projects executed by her government.
Claiming that she had treated all constituencies equally, she appealed to the voters to give their “sister and mother” another term in office.
