AIADMK, DMK "fooling people" in Tamil Nadu: BJP

CHENNAI: BJP today accused the ruling AIADMK government and DMK of doing "petty politics", saying both the Dravidian parties presented "corruption full bad governance" and were fooling people while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented "corruption free good governance."

"Modiji has presented corruption free good governance but AIADMK and DMK has presented in Tamil Nadu, a corruption full bad governance. They are doing petty politics and fooling voters," Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.

"AIADMK and DMK are playing smart politics, smart games here," he said.

Flaying the AIADMK government for allegedly pasting 'amma' stickers on a centrally sponsored scheme, Javadekar, also BJP election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, said, "in giving free rice to poor, 90 per cent is central government subsidy. 10 per cent is what state government gives. But they are putting label and calling it as Amma Free Arisi (Rice) scheme. What we are saying at least call it as Pradhan Mantri Arisi."

"Poor people get Amma Arisi free of cost that is 20 kilos under free rice scheme. What is the proof of Amma free Arisi? ...Central government gives Rs 32 where as Amma (Jayalalithaa) gives Rs three and that is labelled and stickers are pasted as Amma Arisi (rice)..This kind of politics they are playing."

"It is not Amma Arisi. It is Modi Arisi. We can say it as Pradhan Mantri Arisi. We are not fond of names. But who is giving what and it must be named together...they are fooling people," Javadekar said.

Claiming that coconut growers in Tamil Nadu were not given government subsidy, he said, "I met coconut growers here and they are suffering...They are not given any subsidy. They are not allowed to tap coconut for making herbal drink."

"Government does not want poor to take healthy drink but only TASMAC (state run liquor outlets) liquor. That is what they are interested in because it is their business," he charged.

For importing palmolein from Malaysia, Javadekar claimed the state government was giving subsidy to Malaysian farmers.

"...You are not helping your own farmers. Why cannot you give subsidy on coconut oil. If you give subsidy on coconut oil, poor farmers growing coconut will survive and poor person will be happy to use coconut oil than palmolein for cooking."

"So you get votes from Malaysia not from Tamil Nadu farmers," he said.