Linking rivers will solve water woes: Modi

BJP leader Narendra Modi Wednesday said linking rivers will solve the water woes of states like Tamil Nadu and an NDA government, if voted to power, will achieve in 60 months what the Congress could not in 60 years.

Addressing an election rally here, about 350 km from Chennai, Modi said: "River linkage should be done so states like Tamil Nadu get water."

A couple of days ago, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa charged the BJP and the Congress with betraying the state's interests over sharing the Cauvery river's water with Karnataka.

Praising DMDK leader A. Vijayakant and his wife Premalatha as leaders connected to the grassroots, Modi said Tamil Nadu will undergo a huge change under their leadership.

Referring to the power shortage in the state, Modi said Salem also known as steel city has enormous talent but suffers from the problems in Chennai and Delhi - the seat of power in Tamil Nadu and India.

He said the powers in these two cities do not give power but are dealers in power. According to him, all the industries in Tamil Nadu are suffering from power shortage.

The Gujarat chief minister said the nation is tired of promises and wants action and delivery.

Citing the poor drainage facilities in Salem, Modi said 55 percent of the city's household do not have toilets.

He said the NDA government would provide in 60 months what the Congress government failed to do in over 60 years after Independence.

Modi promised that by 2022 when the country celebrates its 75th year of Independence, his government would provide all the poor in the country a house with electricity and drainage connection.

About India's iron ore exports and import of finished steel, Modi said: "No country can think about such an economic agenda."

He stressed that the workers in the Salem Steel Plant should be provided with social security measures like pension.

Taking a dig at Manmohan Singh, he said when prime minister's voice is not heard, naturally people's voices also fail to find listeners.