Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the “horrendous conduct” of Chief Minister MK Stalin during his state visit. The PM was to lay the foundation stone for five station redevelopment projects in Chennai and gauge conversion work worth around Rs 2,907 crore in the state.
Sharing the stage with PM Modi, Stalin presented his list of demands during his address. He urged Modi to uphold the ‘true spirit of cooperative federalism’ and said the Center should increase funds and projects for the state and sought exemption from NEET for Tamil Nadu.
Referring to other economic parameters of the state, Stalin said the central government should increase its contribution to the schemes and fund allocation to do justice to the contribution made by developed states like Tamil Nadu to the country’s development and economy. Only then can the true spirit of cooperative federalism be upheld.
Responding to this, state BJP chief K. Annamalai said he was “ashamed of the horrific conduct of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister”.
In a series of tweets, the saffron party leader said, “Our CM was expected to show grace, but he humiliated himself.”
“Our Chief Minister wants to talk about Katchatheevu Island, but he forgets that the island was gifted to Sri Lanka by none other than Mrs. Indira Gandhi in 1974. Since 1974, the DMK and Congress have formed an alliance, people together. Why this sudden awakening?”
“On the issue of GST, the CM needs to be taught that the decisions of the GST Council were always taken by consensus. On compensation too, the Tamil Nadu government took the option which provides for payment of balance compensation after July 2022. Creating issues. Issues.”
“CM keeps talking of federalism but insults GST Council, a shining example of federalism. Dues are paid as per a jointly formulated formula. CM feels that only his whims count Specific dynastic rights that do not understand the consensus. Now, in the last one year the GST revenue has increased significantly and all the states including Tamil Nadu are benefiting. But, does he or the DMK ever care about the facts? They are only interested in politics.”
“On language, the PM has expressed his affection for Tamil language, literature and culture on several occasions. I don’t think an answer is needed as I am sure he does not believe everything he says on this issue. We do.” politics, he concluded.