Tamil Nadu government will move SC against PM Modi-led Centre on NDRF funds, says CM Stalin

MADURAI: Days after the Karnataka govt filed a petition in the SC against the Union govt over delay in sanctioning drought relief to the state, TN chief minister M K Stalin said the TN govt too will approach SC against Modi-led govt for "refusing to allot central funds" for flood damages in the state caused by cyclone Michaung and the deluge in southern TN in Dec 2023.

Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin on Monday said state govt would approach Supreme Court against Narendra Modi-led govt for "refusing to allot central funds" for flood damages in the state caused by cyclone Michaung and the deluge in southern Tamil Nadu in December 2023. Stalin was campaigning at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district for candidates of the DMK alliance for Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituencies and Vilavancode assembly constituency.

"The state government had sought 37,000 crore as relief and we are still asking, but the Union govt is refusing to grant funds. They are now ridiculing the compensation given by the state govt," said Stalin, referring to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman dubbing it 'pitchai' (alms). "I am announcing here that we are going to the court for relief fund that we are entitled to. We have approached the court and won on pending bills and regarding reinstating Ponmudy (who had ceased to be minister after he was convicted in a corruption case)," said Stalin.

Every penny spent by govt was taxes paid by people and the govt in turn must help them when they are in dire straits, said the CM. "People have the right to ask govt. The fall of the BJP started when they ridiculed this right," said Stalin. He called Nirmala Sitharaman to meet the people once and get to know their response for her comment. "Then, she would never use the word 'pitchai' again," said Stalin.

"While one minister called Tamil people 'beggars', another Union minister is calling Tamils 'terrorists' (referring to a recent remark of Union minister Shobha Karandlaje)," said Stalin.