Anti-people Cong rule should be removed: Jaya

She appealed to electorate to ensure that AIADMK would be part of next government to safeguard rights of Tamils

Mounting a blistering attack on the Congress-led UPA Government, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today accused it of "plundering" the nation in the last ten years and appealed to the people to throw it out in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

"The Congress-led Government at the Centre had plundered the country in the last ten years. This anti-people Congress rule should be removed. I am sure that people are against Congress returning to power," the AIADMK supremo said launching her first phase of poll campaign from this temple town known for its silk garments.

Addressing a rally, amidst loud cheers of "Amma", she appealed to the electorate to ensure that the AIADMK would be part of the next government to safeguard the rights of Tamils, indicating her national ambitions.

Lashing out at the Congress, she accused it of betraying people of Tamil Nadu on at least ten issues, including Sri Lankan Tamils issue, attack on fishermen from the state and on Katchatheevu retrieval.

She also blamed the "wrong economic policies" of the UPA for the price rise and other ills faced by the people and accused it of neglecting the defence sector.

Resorting to her usual style of engaging people, Jayalalithaa during her about 45-minute long speech, asked the crowd whether they needed such a government, evoking a positive roar "no" in response.

"Last time in the assembly elections I had appealed to you all to throw out the family rule (DMK) and you obliged me. Now I am here to ask you to remove anti-people Congress government and am confident you will do it. It is our duty to remove the anti-people and corrupt Congress government," she said.

Referring to various corruption charges that surfaced during the UPA regime, she listed out "Himalayan 2G scam, helicopter scam, coal scam and CWG scam. The list of scams against the Congress rule is endless. In this DMK spearheaded the 2G scam," she said.

She castigated arch-rival DMK, saying the party had been supporting the "anti-people UPA Government" and did nothing for the state despite being part of the central government in the past about 17 years.

"The DMK came to power by seeking votes promising to work for the welfare of the people. But Karunanidhi did nothing. We need to teach a fitting lesson to it in the coming election," she said.