Asserting that the Congress election manifesto has taken the country by storm and rattled the BJP, MDMK general secretary Vaiko has said it has assured a true democratic federal government at the Centre, meeting the aspirations of all sections of the society.
Addressing an election campaign in support of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) candidate K Navas Kani, an ally of the DMK, here on Sunday, he said the Congress’ promises of abolition of NEET examination, decentralisation of powers, protection of States’ rights, waiver of farm loans and monthly doles to the poor assured a democratic and people friendly Congress-led government at the centre.
He said the Modi government after introducing NEET destroyed the dreams of thousands of poor students who aspired to join medicine. Despite scoring high marks in Plus Two examinations they could not secure admission as NEET never offered level-playing field but favoured only the urban and elite students, who could afford coaching, he said.
Stating that the DMK respected Hindus and Hindu religion, Mr Vaiko said it was during the previous DMK regime, as many as 6,000 temples were renovated and consecrated. The DMK and its allies treated all religions as equal and never discriminated people based on their caste and religion, he said.
In a blistering attack against the Modi government, Mr Vaiko alleged that the government was totally ‘anti-people’ in the last five years and supported only the corporate companies. It gave them tax concessions to the tune of ₹5 lakh crore and waived taxes to the tune of ₹2.42 lakh crore, he alleged.
It was during the Modi regime, several scamsters looted money and fled the country, he said. On the other hand, when hapless farmers staged protest in Delhi for several days, demanding waiver of farm loans, Mr Modi never bothered to meet them, leave alone conceding their demands, he said.
The AIADMK government danced to the tunes of Mr Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, he alleged. The killing of 13 people in Thoothukudi police firing was a pre-planned murder by the AIADMK government to silence those who protested against the Sterlite Copper unit in Thoothukudi, he alleged.
The State government had acted as the agent of the corporate company and it should be thrown out in the election, Mr Vaiko said.
