BJP comes down on DMK, AIADMK freebies

Coming down heavily against promise of freebies by the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for the April 13 Tamil Nadu assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday assured the people it would provide an "honest" and "transparent" government if voted to power.

Releasing the BJP manifesto, former party national president Bangaru Laxman said the ruling Dravidian parties through the years had failed to address developmental issues and only focussed on garnering more votes by announcing "freebies".

Terming the freebies announced DMK and AIADMK as an "empty rhetoric", he criticised the Dravidian parties for having failed to address the basic issue of price rise.  "If BJP comes into power, it will focus on the developmentof state," he told mediapersons.

Referring to BJP manifesto, party Tamil Nadu unit president Pon Radhakrishnan said, "The BJP is contesting in 194 constituencies and we are not interested in providing freebies. But we assure you to provide a honest and a transparent government (if BJP comes to power)".

Detailing some of the highlights on the manifesto, he said on the Cauvery river water issue with Karnataka, the party would try to get 205 thousand million cubic feet water annually for Tamil Nadu to help the delta farmers.

On the Mullaperiyar dam issue, he said action would be taken to retain the rights of Tamil Nadu and also raise the dam height to 142 feet as allowed by the Supreme Court. action on interlinking of rivers would also be taken, he said.

Radhakrishnan said a separate ministry would be formed to protect the lives of Tamils living around the world. For the welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka, the BJP would strive to give them equal rights and justice. He said a law banning slaughter of cows and transportation of animals to other states would be brought.

On the Sethu Samudram issue, the manifesto said it would take steps to protect Ramar bridge besides ensuring to declare the bridge as a historical monument. He said BJP senior leader Sushma Swaraj would campaign in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.