Why is DMK stopping Thiruparankundram deepam tradition? asks Fadnavis

Madurai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday slammed the DMK for trying to stop the age-old tradition of lighting the deepam on Thiruparankundram hill and said that the DMK is doing this just for vote-bank politics.Talking to reporters after accompanying BJP candidate Raama Sreenivasan during his nomination for the Madurai South constituency, Fadnavis claimed that the BJP stands for the traditions of Tamil Nadu.He also expressed hope that the NDA will form the government in Tamil Nadu, as there is a wave of change under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The Mahrashtra CM said that once Raama Sreenivasan is elected as MLA, he would approach Prime Minister Modi to facilitate the extension of the metro to Madurai. He added that Modi has deep faith in Madurai, home to the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, and holds a strong affection for Tamil Nadu.He alleged that nearly 75% of the DMK cabinet members face criminal charges and are deeply involved in corruption. Fadnavis claimed that women, senior citizens, and children are unsafe in Tamil Nadu, noting that child sexual abuse cases have doubled over the past four years and that the drug menace is on the rise."People believe there is a nexus between the DMK and these criminal elements; that is why they will respond through their votes in favour of the NDA," he added.He acknowledged that Tamil Nadu has long been one of the country's most developed and promising states, but said that under DMK rule, it is reeling under a huge debt, which has now crossed 10 lakh crore.