Stalin ‘insulted’ PM Modi by skipping Rameswaram event, says Tamil Nadu BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu on Monday came down heavily on Chief Minister M.K. Stalin accusing him of “insulting” Prime Minister Narendra Modi by skipping his official event in Rameswaram.

 

Modi inaugurated the new Pamban Bridge in the coastal town and launched other initiatives worth over Rs 8,000 crore.

 

Stalin gave the event a miss as he was in Ooty to inaugurate a government hospital. The chief minister said he had informed the prime minister about his inability to attend the latter's programme in Rameswaram.

 

“Since I am taking part in this government function I have conveyed to the PM about my inability to take part in his meeting and deputed our ministers Thangam Thennarasu and Raja Kannappan. Through this meeting and through you, I hereby seek the Prime Minister to allay the fears of delimitation," the chief minister said.

 

BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai, however, dubbed it as “drama” and said the reason given by Stalin was not acceptable.

 

“He knows about PM's arrival, as the discussions were happening for long. The Prime Minister did not go to New Delhi directly from Sri Lanka but came here to dedicate projects. That being the case, it is the primary duty of the CM to welcome the PM," Annamalai said.

 

The BJP leader also took a sarcastic jibe at Stalin, saying the chief minister had gone to Ooty since he couldn’t bear the heat in Rameswaram.

 

“The chief minister has insulted the Prime Minister, who came for the sake of the people of Tamil Nadu. He should apologise to the people of Tamil Nadu,” said Annamalai.

 

At Rameswaram, Modi inaugurated the new Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, built at a cost of Rs 700 crore. The bridge provides enhanced rail connectivity between Rameswaram island and the mainland.

 

The prime minister also laid foundation stone for and dedicated to the nation various rail and road projects totally worth over Rs 8,300 crore.

 

India