Centre denying funds to Tamil Nadu as BJP-led Union Government can’t digest the State’s development under DMK rule, says Minister Periyakaruppan

The BJP-led Union Government, which cannot digest the rapid development and advancement of Tamil Nadu in all spheres under the DMK-rule despite the hurdles being created repeatedly by not releasing Central funds to the State, has now denied permission for the metro rail projects for Madurai and Coimbatore, Minister for Cooperation K. R. Periyakaruppan has alleged.

Addressing the 72^nd National Cooperative Week celebrations held here on Thursday, Mr. Periyakaruppan said the Union Government, which was meting out unfair and biased treatment to Tamil Nadu, was repeatedly denying the genuine rights of Tamil Nadu with regard to Central funds. Even as Tamils, who have been educated under Tamil Nadu’s ‘two language formula’, were occupying the top positions in multinational companies, hospitals, financial institutions, banks, information technology companies etc., the Centre, supporting the ‘three-language formula’, was denying ₹2,100 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan programme.

While Tamil Nadu was leading the national ranking in education, the Union Government was compelling the Tamils to follow the education system of the States ranked 25 and even beyond.

After the Union Government refused to release funds for the Chennai Metro project, the Tamil Nadu Government resolved to implement the much-needed transport facility with its own funds.

“Now, the Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Train project proposals have been rejected by the Centre citing reasons that these cities do not have 2 million population. However, the same Union Government has allotted funds for metro train projects for cities having lesser population since these beneficiary cities are in the BJP-ruled States. This is a classic example to showcase the step-motherly treatment of the Centre,” Mr. Periyakaruppan pointed-out.

On the performance of his department, the Minister said the Department of Cooperation had won five national awards which was a testimony to the outstanding achievement of the department. “We’ve set a target of giving ₹20,000 crore crop loan through the primary cooperative banks and realise total transaction of ₹1.10 lakh crore during this year, which will be achieved,” Mr. Periyakaruppan said.

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu and Mr. Periyakaruppan flagged off the ‘cooperative society car’ for creating awareness among the rural population on the services of cooperative societies and handed over six electric autorickshaws.

They also handed over welfare assistance worth ₹107.71 crore to 12,170 beneficiaries.

Registrar of Cooperative Societies K. Nanthakumar, Additional Registrar M. Veerappan, MP C. Rober Bruce, Mayor G. Ramakrishnan, Palayamkottai MLA M. Abdul Wahab, Deputy Mayor K.R. Raju and chairman of Tirunelveli District Panchayat V.S.R. Jegadeesh spoke.