EPS has surrendered Tamil Nadu’s rights to PM Modi, Stalin says

CHENNAI: DMK president M K Stalin on Sunday attacked Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for surrendering the rights of the state during his latest Delhi visit. Stalin said the people of Tamil Nadu would neither forget nor forgive EPS for this act.
The chief minister submitted a list of proposals, seeking release of funds to the tune of Rs 17,350 crore, during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“These proposals, including GST dues from the Centre and allocation for local bodies among others, were the same that CM has repeatedly submitted to the Centre in the past three years. He could have at least tactfully cornered the Centre over delayed release of funds by highlighting that in the Niti Ayog meeting,” Stalin said.
“Further, the chief minister did not make even a reference to the problems faced by students from Tamil Nadu regarding NEET and the suicides of students in the recent days. The state assembly had passed resolutions seeking exemption from NEET for Tamil Nadu and EPS failed to even address this issue in his proposal,” Stalin charged.
Referring to Karnataka chief minister H D Kumarasamy’s address to the media in New Delhi that his state did not need the permission of Tamil Nadu for constructing a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu, Stalin felt EPS should have given a fitting counter to that.
“EPS should have consulted the chief ministers of Kerala and Puducherry and highlighted this issue too in the Niti Ayog meeting. He should have at least categorically said that dam cannot be constructed without the consent of Tamil Nadu,” Stalin said.