BJP should provide accurate data on Central funds given for each project in Tamil Nadu instead of bluntly claiming ₹10-lakh crore released, says Appavu
The BJP leaders and its State president Nainar Nagenthiran, instead of claiming that the Centre had given ₹10-lakh crore for development projects in Tamil Nadu in the past 11 years, should furnish accurate data about the sum of money released as Union government's contribution for each project implemented in the State, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu said.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday after disbursing loans to self-help groups, Mr. Appavu said Mr. Nagenthiran, the 'Son of the soil', should be specific by giving breakup for the total amount released by the Centre for each project being implemented in the State instead of giving vague figure of ₹10 lakh.
Even though the Centre was claiming for the past several years that it was constructing All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Madurai after Prime Minister laid foundation stone in January 2019, there was no progress in the work all the six years for want of funds from the Centre.
While ₹701 crore released by the Centre for implementing railway projects in Tamil Nadu had been returned to the Central exchequer without using it, the Union Government had given a meagre ₹7,000 crore for the Phase II of the Chennai Metro Project, costing a whopping ₹63,000 crore. Hence, the Tamil Nadu Government, after contributing ₹21,000 crore as its share, had stood guarantor for the loan of ₹35,000 crore for completing this much-needed infrastructure project.
'When Edappadi K. Palaniswami was the Chief Minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid foundation stone for Chennai Metro Phase II even though neither clearance nor fund was given by the Centre.
After the Tamil Nadu government approached the Court seeking direction to the Union government for releasing Central funds to the State under the Right to Education scheme benefiting the poor children.
While giving a trivial portion of just ₹1.50 lakh for constructing a ₹15-lakh-worth apartment meant for the poor families and compelling the State governments to bear the remaining portion, the Centre has named it as 'Prime Minister Awas Yojana'. Is it fair?' Mr. Appavu asked.
When asked about Mr. Nainar Nagenthiran's assertion that the BJP was in touch with a few electoral allies of the DMK to woo them to the National Democratic Alliance, Mr. Appavu said: 'Former Minister K.T. Rajenthira Bhalaji has recently observed that there would be no room for communalism in the alliance led by Mr. Edappadi Palaniswami, who is capable of taking independent decisions. Hence he'll take the right decision at the right time. Will the AIADMK be with the BJP till the end of the Assembly polls?'
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