Nirmala Sitharaman Slams CM Stalin for Prioritising Alliance Meeting Over TN Flood Crisis

Nirmala Sitharaman alleged that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after all his meetings met PM Modi in New Delhi.

Till now, the Minister said that thirty one people have died in rain-related incidents in TN.

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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman issued a scathing critique of the DMK-led government's handling of the recent floods in Tamil Nadu, particularly singling out Chief Minister Stalin for attending an alliance meeting in Delhi amid the crisis. Sitharaman expressed her displeasure, stating that CM Stalin came to Delhi with emphasis on I.N.D.I.A meeting when the people of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli were affected by rain and flood.

Addressing the reporters on Friday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "CM Stalin came to Delhi with emphasis on alliance meeting when the people of Thoothukudi and Tiruvelneli were affected by rain and flood." 

After all his meetings, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on his way met PM Modi, she alleged.

Further, the Minister lashed out saying the CM should have stood with the people and told the coalition parties to wait a little. She said, "When there is a calamity in the state, the chief minister should have gone there and stood with the people after telling the coalition parties to wait a little. Did he stop?" 

On the relief efforts in the state, the Minister said, Centre has already released Rs 900 crore to TN in two instalments ahead of heavy rainfall. Till now, thirty one people have died in rain-related incidents in TN.

She highlighted that the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, equipped with advanced technology, including three dopplers, had predicted heavy rainfall in the districts of Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Tuticorin on December 17, as early as December 12.

The statement of the Finance Minister came after DMK MP said that the weather department did not expect this kind of rainfall. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi said, "...The weather department did not expect this, we had been checking regularly. This happened suddenly and unprecedentedly... The government could not have done anything. Every day, more than 1.5 lakh cusecs of water was being released... Water from a lot of tanks breached. Everything together has caused this devastation."