Block scrapping of free electricity at any cost, Stalin to govt

Strongly condemning the Centre for exploiting the pandemic crisis to pressurise the AIADMK regime and scrap the free electricity schemes introduced in the DMK regime, Stalin said that they cannot accept the Centre exploiting the financial stress of states to advance their agenda of offering red carpet to privatisation in the pretext of stimulus package.

Remarking that the condition imposed by the Centre to increase state borrowings would not bode well for cordial Centre-state relations, Stalin said the Centre’s condition was an ‘inhuman’ and ‘unsympathetic’ assault on farmers, who were already suffering unbearable debt and resorting to suicide owing to livelihood failure.

The condition imposed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that the states should end power subsidy and implement it at least in one district before December 31, 2020, to increase borrowings, manifests the usurious mindset of the majority BJP regime, which undermines federalism, said Stalin.

Opining that the condition imposed with colonial mentality would pose a threat to farmer, weavers and ordinary people, Stalin said the Centre should immediately revoke the condition and CM Edappadi K Palaniswami should exert due pressure on the Centre in this regard instead of being content with the customary letter he had penned to the Centre. The AIADMK should be determined in resisting the oppressive Centre and not remain idle, fearing a threat to the government.