Cuddalore: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Tuesday strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on the free bus travel initiative for women, asserting that such views reflect a lack of concern for women’s empowerment.
Addressing an election rally in Cuddalore in support of the DMK-led alliance, Stalin responded sharply to Modi’s recent statement suggesting that permanent free travel schemes could affect the financial sustainability of large infrastructure projects like metro rail systems.
Defending the state’s flagship “Vidiyal Payanam” scheme, Stalin described it as an “economic revolution” that has significantly improved mobility and independence for women across Tamil Nadu. He argued that welfare initiatives should not be measured solely through profit metrics but through their social impact.
Stalin further claimed that if the NDA were to come to power in the state, such welfare programmes could face discontinuation, warning voters about potential policy reversals.
Turning his criticism towards the opposition, Stalin took a swipe at AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, accusing him of compromising Tamil Nadu’s interests by aligning with the BJP. He alleged that the AIADMK had deviated from its foundational principles and mockingly referred to it as “Amit Shah DMK,” targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Reinforcing his party’s vision, Stalin called for the continuation of the “Dravidian Model” of governance, stating that a renewed mandate would accelerate development and strengthen welfare driven policies in the state.