AIIMS location: State puts onus on Centre

He reiterated that the decision to finalise the site could be taken only by the Centre while every district is competing with each other to secure the Rs 1,500 crore project. Vijaya Baskar informed the House that the Centre’s communication received on May 24 seeking site-related details comes after 2 years of persistent follow up actions from the state. 

“Specific details about the availability of schools, colleges, universities and professional courses may be indicated, employment opportunities for the families, family position, availability of job for the families and details about the industrial and commercial activities in the city would be relevant aspects for determining the availability of jobs, are among other clarifications sought,” Vijaya Baskar said quoting the communique. “We have instructed the Collectors to prepare an exhaustive report in this regard and forward it. The state is cautious in preparing this report giving equal leverage to all 5 locations and a consolidated report would be sent to the Centre,” Health Minister Vijaya Baskar said.

Meanwhile, the allies of the ruling AIADMK on Friday sought DMK’s support in raising the parole plea of A G Perarivalan alias Arivu, a convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, in the Assembly. While a discussion on the demand for grants to industries was on in the House, U Thaniyarasu (of Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaignar Peravai), S Karunas (of Mukkulathor Pulipadai) and M Thamimun Ansari (of Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi) walked up to Leader of Opposition MK Stalin and were seen telling him something. The trio were elected on AIADMK’s ‘two-leaves’ symbol. 

Speaking to reporters outside the House, Thaniyarasu said the three of them had submitted a special call attention motion with Speaker P Dhanapal’s office to urge the government to grant parole for Perarivalan. “We urged the DMK working president to add strength to our motion by supporting it whenever it was taken up for discussion,” he said. A copy of the motion was handed over to Stalin, he added. Arputhammal, mother of Perarivalan, said former chief minister J Jayalalithaa had taken the initiative for the release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.