'Clear the muck and let the lotus bloom'

The Union minister of housing, urban development and poverty alleviation Venkaiah Naidu played the Modi card when he addressed a gathering on Raja Street here on Saturday evening. He stressed on the BJP's manifesto of providing basic necessities and stated that the two Dravidian parties, Congress and the Left have "ruined" the country.

He said the BJP 's focus was on basic infrastructure and establishing a corruption-free government. "Modi is a terror to all corrupt fellows in the country. He works day and night for the poor and has many new ideas. His ideas include Make in India, Digital India, Start-up India, Stand-up India and Clean India," he said. "Modi wants to develop and strengthen the country. He has begun sorting out the revenue deficit, current account deficit and trust deficit that we inherited from the Congress government," he added.

Lacing his speech with his trademark wit and humour, the minister first took a dig at Dravidian parties offering freebies. "The AIADMK and DMK have ruled the state in rotation and actually ruined it. Now they are offering freebies. While we are not against this, I don't think this is the solution," he said. "There should be potable water and toilets in every household, pakka roads in every village, schools with teachers and hospitals with doctors," he said.

Referring to the sensitive issue of electricity, he said, "Where is the point in offering free power when there is no power?"

He said the two Dravidian parties, Congress and communist parties filled Tamil Nadu with a lot of muck. He said it was up to the people to clear and clean all the muck to allow the lotus to bloom.

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