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Updated: Feb 10, 2019 19:20 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at the Congress, saying it only did scams in defence sector and looted the country whereas his government achieved self sufficiency in the defence sector.

Speaking at a public meeting in Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu, Modi said the NDA government had set up two defence corridors, one of which is in Tamil Nadu, which would bring industry and investment to the state and give options and opportunities to the youth.

“Those who ruled so far used the defence sector to loot. The previous Congress governments helped brokers. Every middlemen caught had a link with some or the other Congress leader,” he said, adding that Congress did not allow modernisation of the armed forces.

While the BJP implemented One Rank One Pension scheme for the armed forces, “unpardonable comments” were made against an army chief and Congress leaders belittled soldiers and doubted the surgical strikes.

In a veiled dig at former finance minister P Chidambaram, who had asked why middle class complained about price rise when they could buy ice cream and mineral water bottle, Modi said the middle class had rejected “Mr Recounting Minister” and Congress.

Read: BJP-AIADMK alliance buzz grows as Narendra Modi visits Tamil Nadu

Chiding “the wise minister from Tamil Nadu” who “thinks he is the most knowledgeable man in the world”, the PM said his government had promised to waive off taxes of those earning up to Rs 5 lakh during the budget.

Modi said earlier there used to be family packs for ice cream and mobile recharges, but now “it seems there is a family pack for getting bail”. “Those who thought they could never be questioned are made to give an account for their loot now.”

Attacking the opposition on planning a grand alliance against the BJP, he said their agenda was only Modi and had no vision for development.

Calling the alliance an adulterated “club of rich people trying to promote their dynasties” and good at only misleading people, he cited former Tamil Nadu chief minister Kamaraj, who wanted government with zero tolerance to corruption, and said his government had shut thousands of shell companies which had caused the opposition leaders to be unhappy.

“Our friends in the opposition are very funny. They say Modi’s government is a failure. Modi has done nothing. Modi is going to be badly defeated. But still they form big alliances to defeat Modi. What is the agenda with which they are fighting? Nobody knows. Because their guns are trained at Modi,” Modi said.

Assuring equality of opportunity, he said his government had brought 10% reservation for economically backward in the general section, and this would not affect the existing quotas for Dalits, SCs, STs and OBCs.

He said the opposition spread panic among people on this issue and dared them to give one instance where the BJP had altered the social justice system in the nation.

“On the contrary, it was the third front government where DMK and Congress were partners which removed reservation in promotion. It was the (Atal Bihar) Vajpayee government that brought a constitutional amendment to safeguard the interests of the SCs and STs. The strongest amendment in the SC/ST Act has been made by the current NDA government,” he said.

Modi launched new projects and inaugurated completed projects in Tamil Nadu from Tiruppur. He laid the foundation stone of a 100-bed Employees State Insurance Corp (ESIC) health facility in Tiruppur, a new integrated building at Trichy Airport, modernization of Chennai airport, crude oil pipeline from Chennai Port to Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd’s (CPCL) Manali Refinery, via video conference.

Modi also flagged off a passenger service on the 10-km section of the Chennai Metro Rail — AG-DMS Metro station to Washermenpet Metro station — was flagged off by Modi.