Modi speaks about 56-inch chest, but lacks a heart that can wipe the tears of poor: Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Jan 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who speaks of having a 56-inch chest, lacks a heart that can wipe out the tears of the poor, senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed on Wednesday as he hit out at the Centre over its handling of the farmers' agitation.
Questioning as to what was the intelligence department of the central government doing with regard to violence during the farmers protest in Delhi on Tuesday, the leader of opposition in the state assembly asked it to make it public if terrorists were involved in the protests.
"...it is the failure of the government, farmers are protesting for over two months, they have held 11 rounds of discussions so far.. is 11 rounds required to resolve the issue? "
"Farmers' only demand is that- certain laws are anti- farmer, they are black laws against the farm sector- and they have to be withdrawn," Siddaramaiah said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said farmers have been holding protests for over 60 days despite severe cold weather and some of them have even lost their lives.
"Narendra Modi speaks about having a 56-inch chest, how big the chest is, is not important, within it there should be a heart that can wipe the tears of the poor.Modi doesn't have it. Has he called farmers and spoken to them even once, so far?" Siddaramaiah said.
Modi has made it a prestige issue and does not want to withdraw the legislations, he claimed as he alleged that the government has become a "slave" to big corporates like Ambani and Adani, and the laws were made as dictated by them.
The Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of 41 farmer unions, is leading the protest against the three central farm laws at several border points of Delhi.
Violence had broken out during the farmers' tractor parade in the national capital on Tuesday to mark the Republic Day.
Hitting out at state Agriculture Minister B C Patil's alleged statement dubbing farmers' protest as "fight by terrorists", Siddaramaiah termed it as "irresponsible".
"Didn't the government have the intelligence..let them say which all terrorists were involved, no one should speak irresponsibly while talking about farmers.Let them say which all terrorists or those linked to the Khalistan movement are involved," he said.
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DMK poll manifesto is game-changing plan for TN, says Stalin
Chennai (PTI): DMK chief M K Stalin on Monday said his party manifesto for the April 23 Assembly election was a "game-changing" plan for Tamil Nadu as it underscored the steps towards progress.
The monetary support announced in the poll manifesto, he said, was a "smart economic multiplier" that would uplift the local economy, support small businesses, upskill people, and upgrade long-term outcomes.
"Development and welfare move together proving you can build infrastructure, grow the economy, and uplift people simultaneously. From one-size-fits-all to choice-based governance," the Tamil Nadu chief minister said, and added "people decide what works for them."
The manifesto focused on creating assets, improving productivity, generating economic activity, and delivering measurable long-term returns, he said in a post on 'X'.
"This is a next-phase document. It builds on what has already been delivered and scales it with smarter design, deeper impact, and wider reach," Stalin said.
The six steps towards progress outlined in the manifesto included development for women, family, youth, farmers, housing and infrastructure and governance, he said.
He highlighted the DMK poll promises of increasing the monthly grant under 'Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai' (women entitlement) to Rs 2,000, from the present Rs 1,000, and adding new eligible women every year, expanding the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme till 8th Standard, providing coupon worth Rs 8,000 under the 'Illatharasi' (homemaker) scheme to buy new / replace household electronic appliances for their family, enhancing the medical treatment coverage to Rs 10 lakh, and increasing pension sum to Rs 2,000 per month for senior citizens, widows and spinsters above the age of 50.
Skill training for 5 lakh youth who have completed higher education, fetching foreign investment of Rs 18 lakh crore and creating 50 lakh jobs over 5 years, hiking the higher education monthly grant for college students to Rs 1,500 from the present Rs 1,000, providing 35 lakh free laptops to all college students, providing free modern electric pump sets without any meters to over 20 lakh farmers receiving free electricity, and providing 10 lakh new concrete houses under 'Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam' and various other housing schemes towards a hut-free Tamil Nadu by 2030, were among the other assurances.
On governance, he said the people's aspirations registered under the 'Unga Kanava Sollunga' (Tell us your dreams) initiative will be fulfilled as a priority.
