Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an interaction with BJP party cadre, called the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s alliance with the Indian National Congress an ‘opportunistic’ one, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year. PM Modi’s remarks were made during a video-conferencing session with BJP booth workers from Chennai Central, Chennai North, Madurai, Trichy and Tiruvallur parliamentary constituencies.
The Prime Minister was responding to a question from one Muralidharan who introduced himself as the President of the Harbour Mandal of the Central Chennai district. “By doing the mahagatbandhan, will these parties be able to save themselves from the past sins? Do they consider us as fools?” Muralidharan asked.
Pointing out that parties that are now part of the grand anti-BJP alliance led by the Congress, had, in fact, suffered during the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi administration in 1975, PM Modi said, “Today several leaders are talking about a grand alliance. This alliance is for personal survival, not ideology-based support. This alliance is for power, not for the people. This alliance is for personal ambitions, not people's aspirations.”
“The top leadership of several parties who are now aiming for a seat on the mahagatbandhan were arrested and tortured during the Emergency. Sadly today, these parties and Congress have become oxygen for each other,” he added.
The DMK, however, has been in alliance with the United Progressive Front for 14 years now and was part of the cabinet from 2004 to 2014.
Referring to the dismissal of former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran’s government by Indira Gandhi, based on allegations of corruption made by the DMK, PM Modi said, “Even the great MGR, the stalwart who worked for the poor and downtrodden, was targeted. In 1980, his elected government was dismissed. He had the support of the assembly, house of the people. But Congress had the Raj Bhavan, house of the governor.”
“Fresh elections were called and MGR won. Indira Gandhi never forgave MGR for that. No one has forgotten where the Congress and the DMK stood on the Jain Commission. That time Congress said, either it is DMK or it us. But today they want to be together. If not opportunism, what explains their alliance?” he asked.
Speaking to TNM, lawyer and DMK spokesperson Manu pointed to PM Modi’s awkward interaction with booth workers days earlier, when he was unable to answer a question posed by a BJP party worker.
“Mr Modi's little time spent in Indian shores should be used to explain his failed policies and destruction of Constitutional principles over the last 4.5 years. Or at least, he should provide answers to curated questions his party workers ask him instead of saying "Puducherry ko Vanakkam". The people have not elected a Prime Minister to provide comment on opposition alliances but to advance the cause of people,” he said.