Accusing DMK and Congress MLAs from Kanniyakumari district of orchestrating protests against the proposed seaport at Colachel, Union Minister of State for Shipping and Highways Pon. Radhakrishnan said that he would not hesitate to resign and start agitating along with the Bharatiya Janata Party cadres for realising the much-awaited dream project of people.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the Centre had earmarked Rs. 23,000 crore for establishing the commercial port at Colachel, which was a 60-year-old dream of the people of Kanniyakumari district. Even as the Centre was keen on executing the ambitious project, the newly elected MLAs belonging to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Congress from Kanniyakumari district were spreading false propaganda against the project, he claimed.
Mr. Radhakrishnan accused the MLAs of attempting to cripple the scheme by instigating innocent fishermen of the district against the proposed harbour.
“The six MLAs from the district who have been elected to the Assembly should strive to expedite the development of the district in all fronts. Unfortunately, they are working overtime against the welfare of people. If they still create obstacles to the creation of the Colachel port, I, with the permission and blessings of the Bharatiya Janata Party high command and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will resign my post as the Union Minister and wage a battle against these MLAs’ sinister designs. People of Kanniyakumari, who yearn for the development of the district, should understand the ulterior motive of these MLAs,” Mr. Radhakrishnan alleged.
Thanks Jayalalithaa
He thanked the State government for supporting the Colachel seaport project and hoped that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, during her proposed meeting with Mr. Modi on June 14, would get adequate funds for new development projects to be implemented in Tamil Nadu and press for more Centre-funded new schemes for the State.
Mr. Radhakrishnan, who came down heavily on Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president E.V.K.S. Elangovan for having criticised the foreign tours of Mr. Modi, said the TNCC chief should first concentrate on strengthening his party in Tamil Nadu.
“The Congress, which is the prime reason for the defeat of its electoral ally, the DMK, in the just-concluded Assembly polls, will be wiped out in Tamil Nadu even as Mr. Elangovan is heading it,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said.
