“Media Here Won’t Circulate This Because The Govt Here (DMK) Won’t Allow Them”: PM Modi Attacks Dravidian Model Press Freedom

On 28 February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled and laid the foundation for numerous developmental projects valued at approximately Rs 17,300 crore in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. Speaking to the public which comprised of cadre of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister Modi attacked the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led-Tamil Nadu state government hinting at their control over media.

Enumerating the welfare initiatives, such as rail infrastructure and other infrastructural developmental work implemented by the BJP-led central government in Tamil Nadu, Modi pointed out how this is enabling ease of living in Tamil Nadu.

Modi emphasized the BJP’s commitment to Tamil Nadu’s growth, asserting that the party had contributed more to the state in the last decade. Despite not being in power in the state, the BJP has garnered support from the people because of the developmental projects implemented by the central government.

He attributed the spread of falsehoods, confusion, and division to those who had exploited Tamil Nadu for years and were now desperate to cling to power. Modi asserted that their deceptive tactics had been exposed, and their corruption was being revealed through ongoing investigations, alluding to corruption cases involving DMK ministers.

Subsequently, when discussing Tamil Nadu’s media and its political alignments with ruling DMK government, he explicitly criticized the partiality of the media in the state and said, “My friends, I am obliged and willing to place an ideal before you. What I am addressing here, all the ideas that I am conveying to you, is not the ideology of a political party or my personal ideology, it is the ideology of development, the idea of development and progress. Yes, when I say this, newspapers here in Tamil Nadu will not publish these. Because the government here will not allow the news to be published. ” Immediately the crowd responded with enthusiasm, cheering and applauding Modi, Modi. He continued, “However, despite all these obstacles, the development journey and development plan for Tamil Nadu will be implemented by the central government.”

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