Centre betrayed Tamil Nadu, didn’t release interim aid: P Chidambaram

Speaking to reporters here, he said that during such times an interim relief of Rs 500-100 crore is initially announced by the central government before the final sum is decided following a report by the assessing team. 

“However, Centre has so far not announced even one rupee as interim relief,” Chidambaram, also a former Union Home Minister, said. He also questioned the delay in the visit of the Central team, which started its assessment of the cyclone-hit districts on Wednesday after meeting Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. 

The team had arrived here 15 days after Cyclone Vardah had crossed the coast, he said, adding, “there is no answer as to why the team had not been deputed during these 15 days.” Asked about the Centre advocating cashless economy, Chidambaram said, “When even advanced and developed countries like Germany were relying on 80 per cent cash transactions, cashless transaction in India is not acceptable.” 

The former Union Finance minister said demonetisation had led to steep fall in prices and traders had suffered loss of several lakh crores of rupees, adding, seizure of new notes at different places “only exposed the government’s inability and flaws in the administration.”