Puducherry people suffered immensely during Congress-DMK regime, says PM Narendra Modi

PUDUCHERRY: People of Puducherry suffered immensely during Congress-DMK rule, and those years were marked by political instability, corruption, crime and suffering of the poor, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 2,700 crore in Puducherry on Sunday, Modi said the ration shops had no rice during the previous regime.




"Salaries were delayed. Goons and drug mafias ruled the streets. Congress had made Puducherry an ATM for one family that sits in Delhi. When it comes to DMK, you are seeing the long list of scams that are happening in Tamil Nadu, also. Congress and DMK had become a speed breaker in Puducherry’s development journey. Now the same forces are hungry for power again. Should Puducherry go back to that era of corruption and crime? I am sure the people of Puducherry do not want that,” he said.

Modi said Puducherry has been an important part of the freedom struggle. “Many leaders were born here. Some of them came here and worked from here. This land has been crucial to India getting freedom in 1947. Now, by 2047, we must create a developed Puducherry and a developed India. The double engine govt of Puducherry is with you in this mission. We will keep working for BEST Puducherry,” he said.

Modi said during his last visit, he had given the mantra of BEST Puducherry. “BEST means Business, Education, Spirituality and Tourism. In the last four and a half years, this vision is bearing fruit. Puducherry has witnessed good governance and development. When the Centre and the UT work with the same vision and dedication, results are faster and better,” he said.

Modi lauded Puducherry for recording an impressive rise in per capita income. “It has also achieved the highest Social Progress Index score in the country. Now, the double-engine NDA govt will add more momentum to Puducherry’s growth. Today, projects worth more than Rs 2,700 crore are being inaugurated, and foundation stones are being laid. These projects will transform the lives of the people,” he said.

The Prime Minister said connectivity is the backbone of progress. “We are focusing both on rural and urban infrastructure. On one hand, hundreds of kms of rural roads are being built. They are improving connectivity for students, farmers, workers and small businesses. At the same time, we are also working to ensure the decongestion of Puducherry. We have announced projects worth over Rs 1,000 crore in Puducherry town. This includes a flyover worth Rs 440,” he said.

He said connectivity to Chennai was being improved through upgrades in the East Coast Road and Grand Southern Trunk Road. “Travel time between Puducherry and Chennai will reduce to about one and a half to two hours. The Puducherry to Cuddalore National Highway is already completed, and the Karaikal National Highway is being upgraded. We are investing more than Rs 30,000 crore in road projects in the East Coast Corridor up to Kanyakumari. These projects link parts of Puducherry to major economic hubs like Chennai, Bengaluru and Coimbatore. Such connectivity will significantly boost tourism, trade and industry,” he said.