Delhi: After more than a month of winning assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, CM MK Stalin on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss about a few important issues the state has been facing. Stalin entered as a CM when the state came to a grinding halt due to second wave of Covid-19.
Stalin submitted a memorandum of 25-pointer of demands, among which there was a plea for constitutional amendment to enable states to allocate reservation for backward classes, SCs and STs.
The CM urged Modi to mainly repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and three farm laws in the 25 pointers demand list representing the southern state. He also urged the withdrawal of income limit to identify Backward Classes, drop what he called attempts and revoke the National Education Policy and repeal the Draft Environment Impact Assessment notification, 2020.
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He sought an additional allocation of life-saving drugs and Covid vaccines. Besides, reservation for OBCs in all-India quota for admission to medical colleges at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the state. Stalin reiterated demands such as restoration of water level at Mullaperiyar dam to 152 feet, release of Cauvery water during this year as per the Supreme Court’s order, retrieval of Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka and restoration of traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu’s fishermen.
He asked the Centre to share proceeds of various cess and surcharge with states, release of pending 14th Finance Commission grants, as also pending GST dues and pending dues for shared schemes between Centre and the state. Stalin, who was on a two-day visit to Delhi, also met Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja. He is likely to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday.
Addressing the media later, when asked whether he would pursue a line like that of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vis-a-vis ties with the Centre or like others who follow a cordial approach, Stalin said, “We will extend our hand (of support) for (harmonious) ties with the Centre and at the same time raise our voice for state's rights.”
(With inputs from PTI)