CHENNAI: Union minister of state for finance and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan has claimed that late Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa had expressed that Navodaya Schools should be established. “During my meeting with her, she had expressed that Navodaya schools should be started in Tamil Nadu,” Radhakrishnan said and added that it would be a “betrayal” if the State government failed to establish the Navodaya schools for the benefit of students.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday after admitting former Tiruttani MLA G. Raviraj and others from the PMK, into the BJP, Radhakrishnan said 90 per cent of the kin of those opposed to Navodaya schools have learnt Hindi. Two Leaves will not benefit anyone: Radhakrishnan contended that it did not matter which group in the AIADMK obtained the two leaves symbol as his BJP was on the ascending graph. “The BJP is growing at a faster pace in Tamil Nadu,” he said and indicated that the saffron party would dominate the political scenario.
The Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam group has staked the claim over the AIADMK’s two leaves symbol and is hopeful of obtaining it. Party senior and Fisheries minister D. Jayakumar had even exuded the hope that his AIADMK would get the symbol. Turning to the fishermen issue, Radhakrishnan said the Centre was not averse to establishing a separate ministry for the fisheries sector. Already it was involved in efforts to improve the lot of the fishing community and initiated measures to encourage deep sea fishing to further improve their fortunes.
