Rahul Gandhi hits campaign trail in Tamil Nadu, vows to defend Tamil culture

He also promised to protect and defend Tamil Nadu’s unique culture from attacks by the BJP-led Central government. “Ruling party believes that for sake of efficiency of growth, diverse factors need to be homogenised. We don’t believe in that. We believe that if Tamil Nadu is India then India is Tamil Nadu too. I respect Tamil language & maybe will learn it. Vannakam!” he said.

In a tweet shared soon after he landed in Coimbatore, Gandhi accused the Modi government of attacking Tamil culture. “I am delighted to be back in Tamil Nadu today to spend time with my Tamilian brothers and sisters in the Kongu belt,” he wrote. “Together, we will defend & preserve the unique culture of the Tamils against the attacks by Modi govt.”

I am delighted to be back in Tamil Nadu today to spend time with my Tamilian brothers and sisters in the Kongu belt.

Together, we will defend & preserve the unique culture of the Tamils against the attacks by Modi govt. pic.twitter.com/LEl0Uxglbd

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 23, 2021

Addressing people from an open van, Gandhi accused PM Modi of partnering with big businessmen to sell everything that belonged to the people. “What does Modi do? Modi partners with three or four big businessmen in this country. They provide him media and he provides them money,” he said. “Narendra Modi is one by one selling everything that belongs to the people of India and Tamil Nadu.”

I am absolutely convinced that without strengthening small and medium industries we are not going to be successful as a country. I am committed to supporting you, working with you and raising your issues. – Shri @RahulGandhi. pic.twitter.com/DAJR4GNtg5

— Youth Congress (@IYC) January 23, 2021

Gandhi is set to attend election meetings in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts on the first day of his three-day trip, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President KS Azhagiri told reporters on Wednesday. He will also visit Erode for a Congress public meeting, PTI reported.

Talking about the farm laws, Gandhi said what belonged to the farmers was now being taken away by three new farm laws and alleged ryots “are going to be made servants” of biggest industries.

Addressing a gathering of MSME representatives on Saturday afternoon, the Congress leader vowed to restructure GST if the UPA government comes to power. “It is the commitment of the UPA govt that when we come to power, we will restructure the GST,” he said.

Earlier, on January 14, Rahul Gandhi had witnessed a “jallikattu”, bull taming sport, event in Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu.