CHENNAI: Condemning the BJP government for having put the Adichanallur museum project on hold, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitararam to take a look at archaeological museums in Keeladi and in Tirunelveli and learn about the Tamil civilization.
While addressing a programme in Tirunelveli on Sunday, Stalin said he took pride in being a Tamilian, referring to the inauguration of Porunai archaeological museum, which takes the ancient Tamil civilization global, at Reddiarpatti in Tirunelveli on Saturday night.
Meanwhile, Stalin slammed the Centre for gradually winding down the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee programme, which provides livelihood support for many rural households, by replacing it with some other. It’s a historic blunder.
Now, Tamil Nadu is forced to bear the brunt of deficit funding under MGNREGA, the centrally sponsored scheme, from 100 percent on the centre to 40 percent. Condemning this, the DMK would stage a statewide protest on December 24.
Lashing out at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the CM said while the Leader of the Opposition EPS claims himself to be a genuine farmer, he remains mum over the MGNREGA issue and stands ready to support the NDA’s move against the wishes of farmers.
Listing a series of achievements by the Dravidian model government in Tamil Nadu, the DMK president Stalin said with the disbursement of Rs.1,000 monthly assistance to women heads of households, it has improved their livelihoods and helped raise living standards as well. Under TN’s free bus travel scheme, which’s launched in 2021, as many as 1.83 lakh women have so far been benefitted in Tirunelveli district alone.
Citing these, Stalin said Tamil Nadu emerges as a role model for other states, which are implementing similar schemes and trying to match up with Tamil Nadu. Despite hostility and obstacles from the BJP led government at Centre, Tamil Nadu has emerged as the number one state in India, in terms of growth.
Referring to these desirable and productive outcomes, the DMK chief, who’s even more upbeat, made sure of the DMK led front’s victory in 2026.
Earlier, during his schedule, the CM inaugurated 33 development projects worth Rs.235.95 crore and laid foundation stone for 11 new infrastructure development projects at an estimated cost of Rs.356.59 crore. As many as 45,477 beneficiaries were also provided with welfare assistance to the tune of Rs.101.49 crore on the occasion.
Moreover, the CM flagged off 15 new bus services to various destinations from Tirunelveli. The CM also made announcements for three new development projects for the people of Tirunelveli.
Speaker of Legislative Assembly M. Appavu, Municipal Administration Minister K.N.Nehru, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, PWD Minister E.V.Velu, Palayamkottai MLA M. Abdul Wahab, Collector R. Sukumar and others attended.