Chennai: Accusing the opposition DMK of sacrificing the principles and State’s interest as well in its pursuit of power, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has claimed his government is maintaining cordial ties with the Centre only to ensure more funds flow for overall development of Tamil Nadu.
Attempting to blunt the opposition criticism on GST implementation and “minority government” remark, Chief Minister told the Assembly that people’s welfare is uppermost in the mind of the ruling AIADMK. “Much can be accomplished if the State maintains cordial ties with the Centre,” he said and added that his government was amiable with the Centre “to fulfill the projects for the people and to obtain sufficient funds from the Centre.”
He referred to the slew of announcements by Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari for TN including bus port project at three places and said people would gain out of good ties between the two governments.
Joining him, Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar recalled that the DMK shared power with the Congress for 17 years and demanded to know if that party had done anything to make TN economically self reliant or prosperous. “GST, in fact, has helped to improve the State’s revenue,” Mr. Jayakumar said taking strong exception to DMK member and former Minister E. V. Velu who raised the issue during a debate in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Intervening, Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam remarked, “the Congress commenced the process (of implementing GST) and the DMK had then accepted. Now you (both) are giving the impression that you are innocent.”
Later DMK legislator and former Minister Thangam Thennarasu who raised several issues tried to pin down the Treasury Benches but to no avail. At one juncture, Mr. Velu remarked that all the Ministers answered without allowing him to complete his speech.
