Oust Congress to make India strong and safe: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Monday urged people to throw out the "corrupt" Congress-led government at the centre to make India strong and safe.

Launching the AIADMK's election campaign from the textile-temple town of Kanchipuram, the party's general secretary faulted the central government's economic, defence procurement and other policies.

She said wrong economic policies followed by the centre like pricing of oil resulted in spiralling prices of essential goods.

Jayalalithaa said the continued reduction in the allocation for modernisation of armed forces and long delays in acquiring equipment for the defence forces has affected the nation's security.

Apart from cancelling defence contracts when there has been allegations of corruption, steps should be taken to recover the loss incurred, she said.

Defence purchases should be done on government-to-government basis rather than from foreign companies so that corruption can be avoided, the chief minister said.

Urging people to vote out the central government, she said the mood of the people is now akin to what it was prior to 1947 when the country obtained independence.

At that time, people wanted to throw out the British. Similarly, people now want to throw out the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, she said.

"Last 10 years, the country was plundered by the Congress-led government," she said.

If the voice of Tamil Nadu should be heard at the centre, then the next government should have AIADMK as a part.

She also said the Sri Lankan Navy's attack on Indian fishermen would stop once the next government, in which AIADMK is a part, comes to power.

Stressing that her government does not have all the power to solve problems, she said the centre was responsible for issues like allocation of kerosene, defence, Sri Lankan Tamils, Katchatheevu and others.