THE Chennai Rally of BJP trumpeted the emergence of the party as a strong political force to reckon with in Tamil Nadu. The unprecedented show of strength by BJP cadres from all parts of the State loudly proclaimed that the party was going to rewrite, the political history of Tamil Nadu. The mammoth gathering painted the city saffron. Braving the scorching Sun, men, women and children sat through the entire proceedings with discipline which drew appreciation from all quarters.
Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari called upon the people of Tamil Nadu to put an end to what he described as “family rule” both at the centre and in the state. If voted to power, BJP will change the socio-economic scenario of this country, he assured.
He was addressing a mammoth rally in Chennai organised at the conclusion of the yatra (Thamarai Yathirai) undertaken by party’s state president Shri Pon. Radha-krishnan, demanding scholarship for the poor Hindu students on a par with those of other religious groups. He alleged both the Congress and the DMK had been playing ‘vote bank politics’ thus discriminating against the Hindus, ‘Why is this discrimination? Is there any difference, between Hindu students and others?’ he asked. ‘It is shameful for the country to differentiate its children on the lines of religion.’
This is a historic rally which indicates that BJP has emerged as a strong political force in Tamil Nadu. He congratulated the people of Tamil Nadu and BJP workers for the tremendous response that they gave to ‘Thamarai Yathirai’.
While insisting that the 2G spectrum issue had sounded the “death knell” of the DMK in the state, he said. A Raja was only a hero in the film: ‘Director and script writer was M Karunanidhi and producer Congress led UPA company, he quipped. He dubbed Congress as a proprietory concern of Gandhi family and DMK as a family concern with Karunanidhi’s sons and daughter as partners. ‘Both the Congress and the DMK have looted the country and the people of India’, the BJP president alleged. Referring to the economic scenario, Gadkari pointed out that it was very bad. People faced serious problems due to unprecedented price rise.
He alleged that it was only due to the wrong economic policies pursued by the UPA government that the people had to face serious hardships. ‘Only black marketers and manipulators gained in UPA regime.’
2010 had been a year of scandals and corruption. The total amount Rs 2.5 lakh crore from all these scams – 2G spectrum, Adarsh Housing Society, CWG and Bofors – which formed three per cent of GDP of our country. The Supreme Court, opposition parties and people were all asking the government to expose the names involved in black money deposits in Swiss banks. Around 22 lakh crores was deposited and 2000 Indians were involved. ‘Why don’t you reveal the names of the culprits? Why is, it that you try to protect them? He urged Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh to reveal the names involved in the black money deposits for the sake of the people of India. ‘I promise that if BJP comes to power, we will bring in the black money from Swiss Banks. We will utilise the money for inter-linking of rivers which will solve the problem of water, scarcity in South India especially in Tamil Nadu. This will solve other problems like power shortage as well in the state,’ he said.
The BJP national president announced a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh from the central BJP to the rehabilitation work of Sri Lankan Tamils in Jaffna undertaken by Sewa International. The national leader reminded that Vajpayee’s government had the right approach to the problems of Tamils in Sri Lanka which was well appreciated by all political parties in Tamil Nadu. Tamils in Sri Lanka are part of our family. Their issue is a national issue.
Shri Bangaru Laxman, former president of BJP and also election-in-charge for Tamil Nadu said, “BJP workers have gathered from all over Tamil Nadu to serve a notice to DMK-Congress combine that it was time for them to go.” Laxman noted that beyond certain point, people cannot bear corruption or hardships. ‘DMK should go out of power to help the common man, he demanded. The BJP leader also foresaw early Parliament elections.
“While Karunanidhi was trying to shield A Raja playing Dalit card, the 2G spectrum scam hero has grabbed land from 120 Dalit families by fraud and made them homeless,” Radhakrishnan alleged.
“Prices of essential commodities have gone up like anything. People are struggling to live. But Tamil Nadu CM and the PM are not concerned with these problems. Their concern is only to count notes,” Murlidhar Rao alleged.
