Kanyakumari: Raking up the AgustaWestland issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today attacked Congress for a string of scams during its rule and accused it of "making money" in the VVIP chopper deal as he urged the people of Tamil Nadu to vote BJP to power to usher in development.
"There was corruption in coal (block allocation), in 2G and 3G. In 2G and 3G scams, big people are present here in Tamil Nadu who indulged in so much corruption. The entire country knows about it," he said apparently referring to top DMK leaders Kanimozhi, daughter of the party supremo M Karunanidhi, A Raja and Dayanidhi Maran.
"Nowadays you see on television channels and newspapers... they took money even for purchase of helicopters as well. We are not saying this, a court in Italy is saying this," Modi said without naming Congress or its leaders while addressing an election rally here.
Noting that his government has taken steps, one after the other, to end corruption, Modi said, "not a single charge of corruption" has been levelled against his dispensation in Delhi which was about to complete two years in office.
While targeting his adversaries over alleged corruption, Modi said the fruits of development will not reach the poor unless the menace was eliminated.
Modi reaffirmed his commitment to development, which he termed as antidote to all problems.
"Development is the sole medicine for all problems. That is why our entire focus is on the development of all," he said, and added "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" (all inclusive growth) was his goal.
For fruits of development to reach the last citizen of the country, corruption had to be eradicated, he said and asserted that NDA government's focus was on fighting corruption.
Noting that the people of Tamil Nadu had "voted for this or that (DMK and AIADMK) party election after election", Modi said,"I am working for development and I want development work in Tamil Nadu as well. To build the future of the youth of the state, I urge you to give a chance to BJP."
Asking the people to vote for development to change the fate of Tamil Nadu, he said in Tamil "Tamarai vellatum, Tamil Nadu vellatum (Lotus (BJP poll symbol) should win for Tamil Nadu to win).
Modi recalled his government's various efforts for Tamil Nadu, including saving five fishermen from the state on death row in Sri Lanka from the gallows and subsidising rice which was being given at a very low cost or for free in the state.
"But my name or sticker are not there on that rice as I am happy to see the smile on the face of the poor people eating that rice," he said.
Modi underlined his government's commitment to Indians wherever they were in the world and recalled how his government swung into action and brought back stranded countrymen from strife-torn Yemen and got freed jesuit priest Prem, who had been held captive by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Modi proposed setting up a port at Colachel here, a long-pending demand of the locals, and laying good quality road connecting Thirunvanathapuram airport to boost local tourism. Centre had initated steps for construction of a four lane road from Kanayakumari to Thiruvananthapurm airport and it would be completed soon, he added.
Government would invest Rs 21,000 crore on the proposed port project at Colachel here. "This project would generate jobs for the local youths and would bring growth," he said.
