File photo: PM Modi (Picture credit: ANI)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, accusing its leaders of competing in scams and failing to protect the state’s interests, while asserting that the NDA would form the next government.Addressing a massive rally in Madurai ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections,PM Modi said people had “made up their mind” to bring the AIADMK-led NDA to power in the state.

‘DMK competes in scams, not good work’

As per news agency PTI, PM Modi contrasted the DMK with former chief minister K Kamaraj, saying Kamaraj set an example of honesty in politics. “But the DMK is an example of the exact opposite,” he alleged, listing what he described as a Rs 365 crore cash-for-transfer scam, Rs 900 crore cash-for-jobs scam, Rs 1,000 crore contract scam and Rs 4,700 crore sand mining scam.“Usually ministers compete in good work. In the DMK, they compete in scams,” he said, accusing the government of “stealing from the poor, the youth and the farmers” and claiming it had no moral right to continue.

Katchatheevu, Jallikattu and ‘Congress-mukt’ Tamil Nadu

PM Modi said Tamil Nadu was the first state to become “Congress-mukt” by keeping the Congress out of power for six decades. He alleged that the Congress “took revenge” by giving away Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in the 1970s and claimed the DMK did nothing at the time.Referring to the Jallikattu row, he said that when the Congress-led Centre, supported by the DMK, issued a notification banning the sport, “through an ordinance, it was we who ensured Jallikattu could continue.” He also said the Centre honoured Tamil culture by installing the Sengol in Parliament.

‘No one fears anyone in democracy’

Responding to Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remark that the DMK does not fear the Prime Minister “or even if the father of PM comes”, PM Modi called it a “badge of honour”.“In a democracy, nobody fears anyone. So, when someone says they don’t fear me, they aren’t criticising me; actually, they are appreciating my commitment to democratic values,” he said.

Law and order, women’s safety and housing

Invoking late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, PM Modi alleged rising crimes against women and said families were being destroyed by drugs and alcohol. He promised that under an NDA government, “drug mafia and criminals will be behind bars” and women’s safety and dignity would be ensuredHe also accused the DMK of delaying surveys under the PM Awas Yojana (Rural), claiming nearly three lakh houses remain pending. “Why should lakhs of poor families suffer for DMK’s petty politics?” he asked.During the visit, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for infrastructure projects worth Rs 4,400 crore, according to news agency ANI. He also offered prayers at the Sri Subrahmanya Swamy temple in Tirupparankundram and met the family of a young devotee who died during last year’s Karthigai Deepam controversy.