Stalin invites President Ram Nath Kovind to preside over Madras Legislative Council centenary event

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Monday invited President Ram Nath Kovind to preside over the centenary celebrations of the Madras Legislative Council. Former chief minister M Karunanidhi’s portrait will be unveiled in the assembly on the occasion.
Stalin met Kovind in Rashtrapati Bhavan for the first time after assuming charge in May.
“The Madras Legislative Council was set up on January 12, 1921 and the state government has decided to celebrate the centenary of the legislature. I requested the President to preside over the celebrations, and he has accepted,” the chief minister told reporters after the meeting.
The chief minister also invited the President to lay the foundation stones for the construction of Kalaignar memorial library in Madurai, multi-specialty hospital in Guindy, Chennai, besides an arch on the Kamarajar Salai to commemorate the 75th year of Independence. “The President has assured us to give the date in two days,” Stalin said.
The chief minister denied raising any other state-related issues with Kovind.
On the release of seven convicts in Rajiv assassination case, the chief minister said he had written a letter to the President on the issue soon after assuming charge. “It is pending in the court. The remedy has to be sought only through court. The DMK will continue to raise its voice,” Stalin said.
The chief minister said that he had already represented the Prime Minister against the Karnataka government’s Mekedatu dam plan. An all-party meeting was also convened and passed a resolution to point out that the upper riparian state was wrong.
Tamil Nadu water resources minister S Duraimurugan took an all-party delegation to Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat last week. “The Union minister had assured that they would not sanction the project (without getting the consent of lower riparian states). The Prime Minister also assured us. We are hopeful,” Stalin said, adding that the government would face the issue legally since a case was already pending in the court against the dam.
Asked if the state government would accept in case the Karnataka government invited it for talks, Stalin said, “The Tamil Nadu water resources minister has already said there is no room for talks,” Stalin said, adding that there was no necessity for talks among the chief ministers of three riparian states, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Union territory of Puducherry.
On the possible third wave of Covid-19 and the reopening of schools and colleges, the chief minister said the government was evolving plans to handle in the event of the occurrence of a third wave. “The situation now is that schools and colleges cannot be reopened. Discussion will be held with parents, teachers and government officials and a decision will be taken,” he said.
The DMK had held a meeting of its MPs and discussed the subjects to be spoken in the Houses. The parliamentary party leader and the Rajya Sabha floor leader would inform the respective members, Stalin said.