Rahul in Tamil Nadu: ‘Modi should come and look at TN development model’

This comparison on various developmental indices has been the common refrain of the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK.

Campaigning in coastal Ramanathapuram on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sold the Tamil Nadu model of development to counter Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who has been leading the NDA campaign on the development plank.

Speaking at a public meeting on Monday, Rahul questioned Modi’s claims about the Gujarat model of development, comparing it with the Tamil Nadu scenario. “Tamil Nadu has shown what Tamil people are capable of. Modi talks about Gujarat model. Maybe, he should come here and take a look at Tamil model,” Rahul said.

This comparison on various developmental indices has been the common refrain of the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK in the last leg of the general election campaign, after coming under attack from Modi and other NDA campaigners for allegedly disregarding administration and governance in their eagerness to wage war against each other.

Urging the people to vote for a secular government, Rahul said India did not need a government that sparked hatred among communities. “We don’t need a government that spreads hatred among people, a government that makes Hindus fight Muslims. We don’t need a government that imposes ideas from one state to another.”

Forced to go alone in the election due to former partner DMK’s reluctance to form a pre-poll alliance, Rahul put up a brave front, maintaining the party’s refrain of this being an opportunity for the State unit to rebuild itself.

At Ramanathapuram, where the party has little support among fishermen in the backdrop of repeated attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy, the Congress has put up S Thirunavukkarasar, a popular leader among the local voters who could offset the community’s anger.