New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge) Prakash Javadekar briefs the media on air pollution, in New Delhi on Dec 30, 2015. (Photo: IANS/PIB)
New Delhi, May 15 (IANS) Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday urged the people of Tamil Nadu to "punish" the AIADMK and the DMK in Monday's assembly elections for promoting corruption.
Javadekar, the Bhratiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu election in-charge, accused the two parties of exploiting voters by giving away freebies and cash.
"Dravidian parties have exploited voters for freebies. People don't want that. People want a life of self respect and dignity," he said here.
"This is the time to punish both Dravidian parties, the AIADMK as well as DMK because of their corruption, for taking voters for granted and insulting them by offering freebies."
The minister criticised the AIADMK government for not taking advantage of central government schemes.
"Hundreds of villages are yet to be electrified. Be it central schemes like UDAY or UJALA, flood compensation, notification for AIIMS..., Tamil Nadu stayed mum," Javadekar said.
He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking up the issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen, who are frequently arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy for fishing in the island nation's water.
