CM accuses Palaniswami, Centre of betraying Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, alleging that he had done nothing for the western region despite projecting himself as its representative. “Everything he has done is betrayal,” the Chief Minister said at a government function in Erode.

Mr. Palaniswami calling himself a farmer was an “insult to real farmers”, Mr. Stalin said.

Referring to the Centre’s rejection of the State’s request to increase the permissible moisture content in paddy for procurement, Mr. Stalin said a true farmer would have persuaded the Prime Minister to accept the State’s demand.

Terming the rejection of the Coimbatore Metro proposal “another betrayal”, he said the Centre had used the outdated 2011 population data to deny approval. “If the current figures are considered, Coimbatore’s population would be above 20 lakh. Metro projects were cleared in north Indian cities with far smaller populations, but Tamil Nadu alone is facing hurdles,” he said.

Both Mr. Palaniswami and the BJP MLA from Coimbatore had claimed that the Metro rail project would be implemented in Coimbatore if the AIADMK returns to power, he said, adding, “This clearly shows the BJP is punishing the State, especially Coimbatore and Madurai, only because the DMK is in power.”

Governor R.N. Ravi was supporting the Centre’s agenda of “blocking Tamil Nadu’s growth”, Mr. Stalin alleged. Incidents cited by the Governor as examples of security lapses had occurred under the BJP rule – killing of tourists in Kashmir, blast near the Red Fort, and violence in Manipur. Yet, he was speaking as though Tamil Nadu was unsafe, Mr. Stalin said. “The State had contributed significantly to defence funds during crises. Calling such Tamilians extremists is condemnable,” he said.

The Governor held the Bill to name Kumbakonam University after former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for three months before sending it to the President. There were no complications in it. The Governor was trying to evade responsibility by deflecting blame. If the assent is delayed further, Tamil Nadu MPs would raise the issue in Parliament or meet the President, he said. “The more the Governor speaks like this, the easier our job becomes,” he added.

Mr. Stalin said that despite his seeking new railway projects in his meetings with the Prime Minister, the Centre continued to allocate only 1% of funds to Southern Railway while collecting large tax revenues from the State. “For political gain, they punish the people and continue to face defeat in the State,” he said.

Attempts were being made through the Special Intensive Revision to snatch voting rights, he alleged.

Eligible women beneficiaries who had not received the rights grant would get it next month, he said.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated completed projects worth ₹252.73 crore, laid foundation for projects worth ₹91.09 crore, and distributed welfare assistance amounting to ₹278.62 crore to 1,84,491 beneficiaries.