Terming as “step-motherly” the attitude of the Central government towards Tamil Nadu when funds were sought to help mitigate the damage wreaked by natural disasters, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, urged the BJP government at the Centre to allocate funds to Tamil Nadu.
The AIADMK general secretary also reiterated that the AIADMK was not in an alliance with the BJP.
During his speech at the AIADMK general council meeting at Vanagaram near Chennai, Mr. Palaniswami urged the BJP government at the Centre to release funds for Tamil Nadu soon, towards relief for the damage caused by the heavy rains the State witnessed recently.
Recalling instances from the past when T.N. had requested assistance from the Centre over natural disasters, Mr. Palaniswami said these had not been granted by the Centre. “Be it the Congress or the BJP, the Central government has not granted funds as requested by the Tamil Nadu government for disaster relief; it is the duty of the Central government to grant funds to Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Palaniswami said.
The former CM also said the DMK government allocate necessary funds to undertake relief and restoration works in flood-affected areas without waiting for the Centre to grant funds.
Mr. Palaniswami further criticised the DMK government, contending that it had not been prepared to face the natural disaster, even though the weather advisory predicted heavy rains.
