Updated: December 13, 2020 2:12:49 pm
The head of MNM, Kamal Haasan (Photo: Express Archive).
MNM chief Kamal Haasan on Sunday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi explain the rationale for building a new parliament building for around 1 billion rupees “when half of India is hungry due to the coronavirus pandemic caused the loss of livelihoods.”
Seeking to compare the proposed construction of the new building to the centuries-old Great Wall of China, he claimed that “thousands of people died” during its construction, but the rulers of the dragon nation said the wall was to “protect” the people.
“To protect who is building a new Parliament building at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore when half of India is hungry due to the coronavirus pandemic caused the loss of livelihoods,” asked Makkal Leader Needhi Maiam. in a tweet.
“Respond, honorable prime minister-elect,” he said hours before starting the first phase of his campaign for the Madurai Assembly elections in southern Tamil Nadu.
Assembly elections must be held during April-May 2021 in Tamil Nadu.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a new Parliament building on December 10. He also held the unveiling ceremony for the structure, which is expected to be completed in 2022.
Speaking to reporters before leaving for the temple city, Haasan alleged that authorities had not granted at the last minute permission for MNM to campaign within urban areas, although they had obtained the go-ahead to move forward in “many places”.
When asked about the focus of his party’s campaign, he said it would usher in a complete transformation in Tamil Nadu.
“There is no doubt about the degeneration in the state … people know it well and there is no point in lamenting … MNM will talk about what to do now,” he said, apparently targeting the two Dravidian parties, AIADMK and DMK. , which in turn have ruled the state since 1967.
.
