Don’t wait for Central aid, allot state funds for relief: Stalin

Chennai

Alleging that relief and rescue works were not done in a full-fledged manner in the flood affected areas, Stalin, who visited parts of Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur on Sunday, asked the Chief Minister to make efforts to get required funds from the Centre and not stop with merely detailing the extent of damage to the Central team, the DMK president also assured the support of his party MPs in this regard.

“Urging the government to act on a war footing to complete Underground Drainage (UGD) and restore normalcy in Chennai suburbs, Stalin said the DMK, as opposition party, has consoled the flood-hit people and offered assistance to them, while the government machinery, including Ministers designated to oversee flood relief works, have not engaged in a full-fledged manner.

Drawing the CM’s attention to Centre not allotting due funds for flood relief to the state despite the recommendation of the Central teams during past situations, Stalin said the appalling situation should not recur and hence the state government should comprehensively explain the flood damages to the central team and make determined efforts to get funds to at least partially rescue the people from the devastation.

Seeks Guv nod on govt jobs for Tamil medium students

Later in the day, Stalin issued a statement urging the CM to personally meet the Governor and persuade him to give assent to an amendment Bill passed in the Assembly in March last for providing 20 per cent reservation in state government jobs to candidates who did their schooling in Tamil medium.

Expressing shock at the TNPSC counsel submitting before the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court that the Bill has not been approved by the Governor for eight months, Stalin wondered what was the state Law Minister doing and if the CM was paying attention to the administration. Cautioning the CM not to force the DMK to resort to a massive protest against the Governor’s delay, Stalin asked the CM to personally meet and persuade the Governor to give his assent to the amendment Bill without any delay.