Chennai, May 21 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Tuesday cautioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop demeaning or defaming the people of Tamil Nadu and Tamils for the sake of votes.
In a statement here, Mr Stalin took objection to Mr Modi's denigrating remarks against the people of Tamil Nadu and branding them as 'thieves', dishonest and hate-mongers' during an election meeting in Odisha and said such statements did not augur well for the country.
"For the sake of votes, Mr Modi should stop denigrating my people", he said.
Recalling his earlier condemnation for Mr Modi's offensive remarks in Uttar Pradesh alleging that leaders of Southern States, including Tamil Nadu are making derogatory remarks against the people of Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister said the Prime Minister still has not stopped the practice of insulting and denigrating the people of Tamil Nadu.
"Mr Modi has unleashed a bundle of lies that leaders in Southern Tamil Nadu has made derogatory remarks about the people of Uttar Pradesh. It is nothing but imaginary and a bundle of lies. He was making such provocative remarks out of fear of losing the elections s the Opposition led INDIA bloc was marching towards victory in the polls", he added.
Stating that the Prime Minister should be a role model by highlighting his government’s achievements and party’s ideology and levelling constructive criticisms against the Opposition during his electioneering without violating political decorum, Mr Stalin said "instead, Mr Modi was promoting enmity between the states and its people through his hate speeches...This do not augur well for the country".
Hitting back at Mr Modi, he said the Prime Minister in the Odisha election meeting had stated that the missing keys of the famous Puri Jagannath temple Treasury were in Tamil Nadu.
Mr Modi's remarks not only amounted to insulting Lord Puri Jagannath, who was worshipped by crores of people, but also demeaning, wounding and insulting the people of Tamil Nadu who share cordial relations, love and affection with the people of Odisha, Mr Stalin said, in a strong reaction for insulting the people of Tamil Nadu.
Wondering whether his statement was akin to instigating the people of Odisha against the people of Tamil Nadu, Stalin, Mr Stalin said “Can the Prime Minister brand the people of Tamil Nadu as 'thieves' and accused them of stealing from the treasury of Lord Jagannath of Puri?.
He also sought to know whether terming the people of Tamil Nadu as dishonest not amount to insulting Tamil Nadu? Why does the PM harbor so much hatred against Tamils?”.
Charging Mr Modi with adopting double standards, the Chief Minister said while the Prime Minister glorifies Tamil language and lauds the intellectual capacity of Tamils whenever he comes to Tamil Nadu, but at the same time projects the people as ‘thieves’ and ‘hate-mongers’ when he campaigns (for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls) in States like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha."
Stating that the people will understand his double standards, Mr Stalin urged Mr Modi to stop denigrating Tamil Nadu and the Tamils for votes.
UNI GV 1900