EPS blames state for lack of funds for school education dept
2
Trichy/Sivaganga: While former
AIADMK
coordinator
O Panneerselvam
has criticised the Centre for not releasing funds for the school education department, AIA
DMK
general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has pinned the blame on the state govt, alleging that DMK was politicising the issue.
Speaking to reporters at Trichy on Tuesday, EPS questioned the DMK for `failing' to shift education from concurrent list to state list when the party shared power in the Centre for about 16 years. "In 1976, when Congress was in power, education was moved from state to concurrent list. If DMK really had the intention, they could have resolved the issue when they were part of union govts,'' EPS said responding to a query on OPS condemning the Centre for not releasing 2,151 crore SSA fund.
To a query on the parties which are part of NDA, EPS said there were eight more months left to finalise the alliance. For now, EPS said, AIADMK and BJP have formed an alliance, while there were a few other parties which have allied with BJP.
EPS said that the state govt has revoked an order mandating Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) to verify farmers' CIBIL score to disburse crop loans after he raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week.
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"While campaigning in the delta districts, farmers told me they were struggling to get loans after the CIBIL score check was made compulsory through a state govt circular issued on July 17. I submitted a request to the PM outlining the difficulties faced by farmers. A revised circular issued on July 28 revoked the order, and the old norms have now been reinstated," he said.
Palaniswami added that the AIADMK continues to work for the people despite being out of power.
"I had raised this issue several times during my campaigns, but the state govt ignored it. Only after I brought it to the PM's attention did they act. We are glad to have helped the farmers," he said.
Addressing the public in Sivaganga district later in the day, during his Makkalai Kappom, Tamizhagathai Meetpom campaign, EPS alleged that chief minister M K Stalin enacted a drama conducting review meetings during his hospitalisation.
EPS recalled that he had wished the CM to recover soon. But, Stalin enacted a drama by conducting a meeting with the officials at the hospital in a bid to dupe the people, EPS said.
EPS also flayed Stalin for the state govt's directive mandating the small traders to get licence to run shops and install CCTV cameras. "Would it be possible for the small traders to obtain licences and install CCTV cameras?" he asked, adding that the livelihood of the traders would be affected.
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