News Tamil Nadu

TN BJP Chief Annamalai Hits Back At DMK Min PTR’s Twitter Troll Over Modi’s Metro And Free Bus Remarks

May 18, 2024
The Commune

A recent interview, Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented, “You make a metro in a city. And in the same city, to win elections, some people are saying we will provide free travel to women in buses. Then you have taken the 50% passenger. Then the metro won’t be viable. Then how will metros be made in the future? By this, you have made a problem of traffic and a problem of the environment.”

In response, Tamil Nadu’s DMK minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (PTR) took to Twitter, sharply criticizing the PM’s logic. He tweeted, “The farce (the snippets compete with each other for top spot) with four pliant court jesters explains why there have been no press conferences in 10 years. Had the court jesters been actual journalists instead, a few questions should have come up immediately to counter this puerile logic:”

PTR’s tweet further read:

1. Is there any place in the world where:
– a) There is a Metro but not a bus service ALSO (they are complementary, not direct substitutes)?
– b) Some form of concession for travel on public transport (student, aged, monthly pass, etc.) is NOT offered?
– c) The bus service then affects the viability of the Metro?

2. Why has the equity investment in the Chennai Metro Phase II (new lines) been kept pending by the Union Cabinet for so many years, even as many Metros in other cities announced/agreed after it have been funded? They might have pointed out that one cannot travel on Metro lines that don’t exist, irrespective of whether the bus is free for women or with a paid ticket!

This critique was quickly countered by Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K. Annamalai, who defended the Prime Minister and accused the DMK government of mismanagement. Annamalai tweeted, “The welfare & concessions of the DMK Govt come at a cost. There is no place in the world where each Minister takes turns belittling a beneficiary as a ‘Freeloader,’ like in TN under the DMK Government.”

Annamalai’s rebuttal included several accusations:

1. The benefit claimed by the government as savings is a cruel joke as the cost of other essentials, such as milk and electricity charges, have skyrocketed. DMK is an expert in picking the right pocket and dropping it in the left pocket of the same person as welfare.

2. Ever since the DMK came to power, about 6000 buses have been off the road, making commuting difficult for passengers.

3. The procurement of electric buses has remained an announcement for the last 3 years.

Additionally, Annamalai questioned the DMK’s decision-making in awarding contracts: “While the Minister who lost his Finance portfolio for exposing monumental corruption in the DMK Government speaks about matters that aren’t his domain, we would like to understand why the Tender for procurement of equipment for Smart classrooms for Govt schools was awarded to Keltron (Kerala State owned Electronic Development Corporation). Why was ELCOT not given an opportunity in this ₹1000 Crore Tender which has part of funding from our Central government’s Samagra Siksha Programme. Would the IT Minister of Tamil Nadu care to explain?”

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.