New Delhi: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on his Mission South India. On Sunday, he laid the foundation stone for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai. He also inaugurated super-specialty blocks at medical colleges in Thanjavur and Tirunelveli. At a cost of Rs 1,264 crore, the AIIMS near Thoppur, is the first such facility in Tamil Nadu.

Sounding the poll bugle a well-attended BJP rally after the inauguration, PM Modi took swipe at the 'Mahagatbandhan', the grand alliance of the opposition parties and said that the opposition  parties have set aside differences to "remove this watchman."

He also said his government was taking effective steps to rid the country of corruption and nepotism.

"Any person who has cheated or looted the country, shall be brought to justice," Modi said in an apparent reference to economic offenders -- Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi who are wanted in connection with defaulting on huge bank loans.”

He said that the NDA government is committed to strengthen initiatives for ensuring universal healthcare.

“The NDA govt is giving great priority to the health sector so that everyone is healthy and the health care is affordable... Today I am happy to inaugurate the super speciality hospitals in Madurai, Thanjavur and Tirunelveli”, he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Talking about his Swachh Bharat mission, he said that it has become a people’s movement. “Rural sanitation has increased from 38% in 2014 to 98% today. We have built more than 9 crore toilets in this period, out of which 47 Lakh have been made in Tamil Nadu alone”, he said.

Speaking about ten percent quota for general caste, the Prime Minister said that the Union government is committed to providing employment opportunities and education to all segments of our society. It was with this spirit that recently the government decided to provide 10% reservation in education and government employment to the poor among the general category.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami thanked the Prime Minister for providing the AIIMS facility to Tamil Nadu and urged upon the Centre to set up a medical college at the backward Ramanathapuram district.

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said AIIMS here would greatly benefit the people of southern backward districts of Tamil Nadu adding all necessary infrastructure will be developed in the region.

(Inputs from agencies)