PM Narendra Modi strikes Tamil chord, plays to the Chennai gallery – Times of India

CHENNAI: With just two months to go for the Tamil Nadu assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Chennai on Sunday to connect with voters by stirring Tamil pride and sentiments. He praised Chennai for its energy and enthusiasm, knowledge and creativity and profusely thanked its people for giving him a warm welcome.
During his three-hour long visit, Modi sought to strike a chord by recalling Tamil Nadu’s “glorious past”. In his 20-minute address, the PM emhasised his government’s commitment and that of the AIADMK government to the welfare of the people. He then unveiled key infrastructure projects, including the phase I extension Chennai MetroRail.
In a rare gesture, the event began with Modi paying floral tributes to huge portraits of AIADMK’s iconic leaders, former chief ministers M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, placed on the podium. Modi then began his address in Tamil, saying, “Vanakkam Chennai and Vanakkam Tamil Nadu”, evoking loud applause from the audience in the packed indoor Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.
“I am happy to be in Chennai today. I thank the people of this city for the warm welcome they have given me. This city is full of energy and enthusiasm. It is a city of knowledge and creativity. These projects are symbols of innovation and indigenous development. These projects will further the growth of Tamil Nadu,” Modi said.
He made the announcements amidst chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Modi ji vazhga’. The stadium erupted in cheers when Modi flagged off the fourth line between Chennai Beach-Attipattu and electrification of a single line Villupuram-Cuddalore-Mayiladuthurai-Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai-Tiruvarur section that would save Rs 14.61 lakh per day on fuel cost. “Improved connectivity brings convenience. It also helps commerce. The electrification will be a great boon to the delta districts,” the PM said.
Laying the foundation stone to modernise 636km long Grand Anicut canal system, he invoked Tamil saint poet Avvaiyar’s poem, “Varappura neer uyarum.” Reciting in Tamil, Modi stressed the need to conserve every drop of water for future generations. Translating the Tamil verse himself, he said, “When water levels rise, cultivation rises, people prosper, and the state prospers. We have to do whatever we can to conserve water. This is not a national issue. It is a global subject.”
While Tamil Nadu is already a leading automobile manufacturing hub of India, Modi said the state was evolving as the tank manufacturing hub of India too. “A tank made in Tamil Nadu will be used in our northern borders to keep the nation safe. This showcases India’s united spirit – Bharat’s Ekta Darshan,” he said, pointing to Arjun Main Battle Tank (MK-1A), the indigenously made vehicle. Earlier, Arjun (MK-1A) gave a gun salute to Modi in the stadium complex, just ahead of PM proudly handing over the vehicle to the Army.
Modi said India had undertaken a massive effort to become self-reliant in the defence sector inspired by celebrated national poet, Subramania Bharathi’s vision. Quoting the poet’s famous verse “in the oldest language in the world, Tamil” — Aayudham Seivom, Nalla Kakitham Seivom, the PM went on to translate it as, “Let us make weapons; let us make paper, let us make factories; let us make schools. Let us make vehicles that can move and fly. Let us make ships that can shake the world.”
One of the two defence corridors is in Tamil Nadu and the corridor already received investment commitments of over Rs 8,100 crore, Modi said. He paid homage to the Pulwama martyrs on the anniversary of the attack that fell on Sunday. The ‘Discovery Campus’ of IITM will house world-class research centres and Modi hoped it would be a leading centre of discovery, drawing the best talents from India.