Both AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may project an image of being fearless, but the truth is that the former is afraid of his “Delhi masters,” while the latter is beholden to the United States of America, DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MP, said on Monday.
“But when it comes to Tamil Nadu, both are ranged against the state. All those betraying the state have teamed up,” Kanimozhi, who is also the DMK Parliamentary Party leader, said while addressing election rallies in Sulur and Kavundampalayam constituencies in Coimbatore district. According to her, “the mask has fallen” for both EPS and Modi.
Framing the Assembly election as a contest not between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, but between Tamil Nadu and the NDA, she said, “Ours is an alliance striving for inclusiveness and fighting for the rights of minorities and others. We are standing up against those bent upon dividing the country on communal lines.”
“While Tamil Nadu remains a haven of peace, people in BJP-ruled states in the north are deprived of their rights. They are creating a riotous situation and disturbing peace. This election result should be a harbinger of hope for a change of guard at the national level,” she said, accusing the Modi government of withholding funds due to the state for school education on flimsy grounds.
The Union Government has denied the Metro Rail project to Coimbatore, the industrial hub of Tamil Nadu, she pointed out, and promised to bring training centres for small and medium enterprises.
Earlier, during her campaign in the southern districts, Kanimozhi charged the BJP with attempting to destroy opposition parties and warned that EPS should be wary of the saffron party.
“We are not like the BJP, which does not want any opposition to exist. We believe in an effective opposition. See the fate of those who aligned with it. Former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been reduced to a Rajya Sabha MP. AIADMK is the only opposition to us. But it appears that EPS might be packed off to a Raj Bhavan—though it is not clear which state,” she said, adding, “Beware of this EPS.”