Prime Minister Narendra Modi met DMK supremo M Karunanidhi at the latter’s Gopalapuram residence in Chennai on Monday, 6 November.
The meeting between the two leaders lasted about 20 minutes. Modi sat next to Karunanidhi and held his hands. This is their first meeting since Modi became Prime Minister in 2014. The DMK has dismissed speculation about the nature of the visit, stating that it was merely a courtesy call.
Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) is a very senior leader in Indian politics. Mr Modi has respect for him. They used to greet each other during meetings in Delhi and this has been the practice. This visit is simply a courtesy call.TKS Elangovan, Spokesperson, DMK
DMK Working President and Karunanidhi's son, MK Stalin, welcomed the Prime Minister at the gate and honoured him with a red shawl.
PM Modi meets Karunanidhi in Chennai.
(Photo Courtesy: @mkstalin/Twitter)
Modi was accompanied by Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan and state BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan.
BJP leader P Muralidhar Rao tweeted on Monday morning that Modi will be meeting the ‘senior most’ leader from the state.
I think this is basic politicking. Modi wants to gain some goodwill in Tamil Nadu by meeting our Thalaivar, to show that he has respect towards a senior leader like him.DMK Spokesperson to The News Minute
Reaffirming the DMK’s stance that the meeting was simply a courtesy call, The DMK released a statement after the PM’s visit, that 8 November will be observed as ‘Black Day’ across the state, except for 8 rain-affected states, reported The News Minute. The DMK along with 17 other members of the opposition had made a unified called for protests and the observation of 8 November as ‘Black Day’, in October.
During the 2014 elections, Karunanidhi had played a key role in forming an alliance against the NDA. Though Narendra Modi has visited Chennai after becoming prime minister, this is the first time that he has reached out to the DMK chief.
The timing of the visit is also interesting as the date for the verdict in the 2G scam case may be announced on 7 November, and the DMK is on tenterhooks over what the verdict will be and how it will affect the future of the party and the patriarch’s daughter Kanimozhi, who is an accused in the case.
TN Seeks Rs 1,500 Crore Central Assistance
During Modi’s visit, the Tamil Nadu government sought Central assistance to the tune of Rs 1,500 from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to tackle the situation arising from the flooding and damage caused by heavy rains in Chennai, its neighbourhood and coastal districts.
Disclosing this, Chief Minister K Palaniswamy told reporters that Modi, with whom he discussed the situation, promised him all assistance from the Central government for relief and rehabilitation work.
He said the Prime Minister was apprised of the preparation of a plan to construct a drainage network to avoid flooding in Chennai, the neighbouring areas of Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts and in the coastal areas of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur.
He also assured the state government all possible support by the central government to handle the situation arising out of heavy rains and floods here and in other parts of the state.
At least 14 persons lost their lives due to heavy rains in the state last week.
(With inputs from The News Minute, PTI and IANS)
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