Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Apr 18: Giving the Prime Minister Narendra Modi back in his own coins, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday reminded Mr Modi’s complaints as the chief minister of Gujarat against the then Central government of being “partisan” in allocating funds to opposition-ruled states and that it was running a “parallel” government through the governors.
Taking strong exception to Mr Modi’s criticism of Tamil Nadu that it was “crying” for funds despite being allotted more funds than the previous regimes, Mr Stalin said his asking for allocation of central funds was not “crying” but was the “right of Tamil Nadu.”
Speaking at a government function at Ponneri in Tiruvallur district, Mr Stalin recalled Mr Modi’s comments when he was the chief minister of his home state Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 over seeking funds from the Union government. He also asked if Union Home Minister Amit Shah could guarantee that delimitation would not reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation, exempt the State from the ambit of NEET, and assure that Hindi would not be imposed.
He recalled Mr Modi’s criticism of the Centre’s partisan fund allocations and accusations of Governors running “parallel governments” in opposition-ruled states. “When Tamil Nadu seeks its rightful share, how is it ‘crying’? I’m asserting our state’s rights, not growling. I learned this from our leader Kalaignar [Karunanidhi],” Stalin asserted.
Recalling Mr Modi’s comments during his recent visit to Rameswaram that those in Tamil Nadu were “crying” for funds, Mr Stalin said, “What did he say? How much ever is given, those here are crying. He is saying we were crying irrespective of how much ever they give us.” Mr Stalin said: “With complete humility and respect, I want to remind the Prime Minister, it was you [Mr Modi] who said the States were not beggars to extend hands to the Union government for funds. I am only reminding you.”
Recalling more statements, Mr Stalin said: “What did you speak while being the Gujarat Chief Minister? That they were running a parallel government through the Governors? Who said it then? Modi said it when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister. He said the then UPA government at the Centre was partisan in allocating funds to States run by parties that were in opposition to the Union government.”
Pointing out Tamil Nadu’s demands to the Union government for funds, Mr Stalin said: “When we ask the same, how is it justified to say we are crying for funds? My asking is not crying but the right of Tamil Nadu. I am neither the one for crying nor the one who crawls and falls at someone’s feet. Let us extend our hands to our relations and voice out for our rights. Who taught us this? It was our leader Kalaignar [Karunanidhi]. I am following in his footsteps.”
The CM inaugurated over 6,700 projects that have been completed in Tiruvallur district at a total cost of ₹1,166 crore. He also laid the foundation for over 7,300 new projects and launched the distribution of welfare measures to over 2.02 lakh beneficiaries.
About Mr Amit Shah’s recent visit to Chennai, Mr Stalin said, Mr Shah claimed that “we were raising certain issues only as a diversionary tactic. Who has said this? Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Tamil Nadu is fighting for all the States in India. Is it wrong to ask for the rights of the State? Only because you did not do anything, we moved the Supreme Court against the Governor and obtained a historic judgement.”
Not only the people of Tamil Nadu but those in the rest of the country too were aware of the struggle led by the DMK, Mr Stalin said. “When this is the truth, those who are digressing from their path, need not lament that we are diverting. Honourable Union Home Minister Amit Shah! Can you say that Tamil Nadu would be exempted from the ambit of NEET? Can you guarantee that you would not impose Hindi? Can you list out how much funds you have sanctioned for Tamil Nadu so far?”
“Can you assure that the representation of Tamil Nadu will not go down after the delimitation process? If what we ask for is diversion, why have not you given a clear explanation to the people of Tamil Nadu over these?” Mr Stalin questioned.
