AIADMK government not raising its voice on drought, SL issue: MK Stalin
Chennai: Leader of Opposition M.K. Stalin on Saturday alleged that the AIADMK government is sacrificing the interests of Tamil Nadu on major issues like drought, Sri Lankan Tamils and Neet.
The DMK ally and TNCC president S. Thirunavukkarasar too made similar accusations against the state government and questioned the secret behind the hesitance of the state government to press for its rights.
Stalin said the state government failed to get sufficient drought and cyclone Vardah relief funds, but claiming that they had obtained higher funds than the other states. The Centre is intent on imposing Neet in Tamil Nadu, but the state government is spending time on empty rhetoric, he complained.
The AIADMK government is maintaining silence on the resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council giving two more years for Sri Lanka to enquire the war crimes against Tamils during the island government's military offensive in 2009, he said and accused the state government of not exerting pressure on the centre on the issue.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami is not speaking on any of the issues and focusing on saving his post, Stalin commented. Despite the Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan announcing that the methane project would not be implemented, the project had been discussed in a meeting of Environment ministry on February 28, he said.
Criticising the Centre, he said the Union government is refusing to form the Cauvery Management Board and it was a silent spectator at the UNHRC to the extension of period to enquire into the war crimes against Lankan Tamils, he said.
Thirunavukkarasar too joined that attacks against the state government and said the centre had sanctioned only Rs. 2015 crores for drought relief, clearly showing an anti-Tamil attitude. The Union government is meting out a step motherly treatment to Tamil Nadu, he said and announced a protest demonstration on April 3 in front of central government offices.
He asked why the AIADMK government is hesitant to raise its voice against the centre. He opined that the state is losing its rights due to the fear of its rulers and said the AIADMK should be condemned for its fear to take on the centre for the welfare of Tamil Nadu people.
Stalin to begin campaign on March 28
DMK working president M.K. Stalin will launch his formal election campaign for the RK Nagar bypoll on March 28 with a public meeting attended by all the alliance leaders.
Speaking to the media at the party headquarters on Saturday, Stalin said the Election Commission had shifted former CoP S. George from his position since it realised that his party’s request was fair. He recalled that DMK organising secretary R.S.Bharathi and other party MPs had submitted a petition in the EC to transfer George. The DMK would complain to the EC about the distribution of money in RK Nagar with proper evidence, he said.
He declined to answer questions from AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran that the DMK is trying to buy AIADMK MLAs to destroy the AIADMK.
