It was a day of protests on the ground and hashtag wars on social media in Tamil Nadu as Prime minister Narendra Modi landed in Madurai to lay the foundation stone for the All India Medical Sciences Institute (AIIMS).
While the MDMK cadres led by their leader Vaiko was on the ground holding black flags and hoardings in protest, Twitteratti were busy trending four hashtags for and against Modi. The MDMK cadres raised slogans against the prime minister, saying, “Go Back Modi”. Apart from the MDMK, other Tamil Nationalist movements made known their protest. The protesters were seen raising slogans against Modi for betraying the interests of the state.
Meanwhile four hashtags―#GoBackModi, #GoBackSaddistModi, #MaduraiThanksModi and #TNWelcomesModi were seen trending on Twitter. It is for the second time, in the last one year, the state is throwing its anger and protests against Modi and the BJP. The anger seems to have stemmed out of the Centre's alleged inefficiency in extending help during the Gaja cyclone, during the killings in Thoothukudi in a police firing when people protested against Sterlite smelter, and during protests against the construction of a dam across Mekadattu in Karnataka.
Gaja had wreaked major havoc in Tamil Nadu in November last year and the state demanded over Rs 14,000 crores to restore and rehabilitate the affected districts. However, the Centre extended only around Rs 1,200 crores which was insufficient to help more than 3 lakh people rendered homeless.
Modi on Sunday laid the foundation for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and also inaugurated the super specialty blocks of Rajaji Medical College (Madurai), Thanjavur Medical College (Thanjavur) and Tirunelveli Medical College (Tirunelveli) as a part of upgradation projects of government medical colleges.
Modi's visit has sparked war on Twitter. Meanwhile welcoming Modi, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palansami said Tamil Nadu stands ahead in healthcare.