MADURAI: Chief minister M K Stalin on Friday asked how Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke about the rights of state governments when he was chief minister of Gujarat, had forgotten about the same after he became the Prime Minister of the country.
Stalin was addressing a virtual campaign for the local body polls in Kanyakumari district. He charged the Centre with trying to choke revenue of state governments by taking control over property registration revenue, which remained a major source of revenue of state governments. If all revenue sources are taken over by the Centre, "How could states function?"
"Where is our pending GST dues? Where is our disaster relief fund? Where are the schemes for Tamil Nadu? What importance have you given for Tamil language? We don't get answers for these," he said. The Union budget took away subsidy for food and fertilizers and funds for MGNREGS, he said.
Taking a jibe at the PM, he said Modi thought that he could befool Tamil Nadu people by reciting verses from 'Thirukkural' and saying 'vanakkam'. "We had taken Thirukkural across the globe long time ago. Tamil Nadu people will never get cheated," he said. Recalling Rahul Gandhi's speech in the Parliament, Stalin said the Prime Minister would not be able to ignore for long the voice of elected representatives on NEET examination.
He blamed the Union government for Sri Lankan authorities auctioning the boats seized from Indian fishermen. Stalin likened the DMK regime to the rule of a race and said his government was giving due importance to excavations at historical sites to unearth remnants of past civilizations.
The BJP and the AIADMK were stumbling blocks in promoting welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu, he charged. "Be it equality, socialism, secularism or affinity for language, only the DMK can ensure it," he said.
