Stalin, EPS spar over flood relief in The Nilgiris 

“He had visited Coimbatore yesterday (Monday). Ooty is not far from there. Ideally, he should have visited Ooty. But he has neither visited thus far nor explained why (he did not),” Stalin said, responding to the CM’s jibe that the DMK president had visited flood affected places to show off.

This, he told reporters at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam when asked to respond to CM’s statement that former union minister P Chidambaram has not done anything to Tamil Nadu, and he was a burden on earth.

Sidestepping the CM’s critique of Chidambaram, Stalin said, “The Chief Minister has made statements beyond his stature about my Nilgiris visit. He said I had visited flood affected places to show off and for publicity. It would not take long for me to wonder if the CM was visiting US and London to show off?” referring to reported US and UK tour of the CM. “But, I will not stoop to his level and make such a statement, forgetting the position I hold,” Stalin added.

Claiming that the state had initiated appropriate relief and rescue operations on time in the flood-hit Nilgiris district, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday slammed DMK president MK Stalin for making false statements without verifying the facts.

“Stalin is unaware of the ground reality and is making statements without checking news,” Palaniswami said.

Revenue Minister RB Udayakumar and Commissioner of Revenue Administration visited Nilgiris and supervised the rescue and relief operations.

Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam also visited the areas affected by recent unprecedented rains and said a detailed report will be prepared after assessing the damage.

Moreover, Panneerselvam went around some of the badly hit parts of the district and assured all help to the affected people.

A meeting is scheduled on Wednesday to take stock of the situation, the CM said.The state has also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the deceased. But, Stalin without checking the news, was making false comments, Palaniswami noted.

He  added that after a complete assessment of the situation, they will approach the Central government to seek funds for the disaster that The Nilgiris is now facing.