New Delhi / Chennai: “The AIADMK will take a decision on an alliance with BJP only after the announcement of dates for elections,” Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, the joint coordinator of the ruling party, said today after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Palaniswami said funds for developmental schemes and plans for Tamilnadu were the main agendas behind today’s half-an-hour meeting with the Prime Minister.
He said, “I have requested the Prime Minister to allocate Rs 4,445 crore for setting up permanent flood mitigation plans and infrastructure in Chennai. We discussed the need to set up AIIMS Hospital in Madurai as early as possible. Setting up an ordnance factory in Salem was also discussed.”
The Chief Minister also talked with the Prime Minister about honouring the past leaders of the State. He said, “I have requested the Prime Minister to fulfil the resolution passed by Tamilnadu to honour Perarignar Anna and Jayalalithaa with Bharat Ratna. To commemorate the birth centenary of Puratchi Thalaivar MGR, the Tamilnadu government also passed a resolution to rename Chennai Central as Dr Puratchithalaivar M G Ramachandran Central. I asked the Prime Minister to look into it.”
Palaniswami talked about setting up a helicopter search and rescue centre in Kanyakumari to find Tamilnadu fishermen who frequently go missing in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Increasing flight services in the State by setting up airports in Hosur, Neyveli, Ramanathapuram were also discussed. The Chief Minister also requested the Prime Minister to reject the proposal of the Karnataka government to construct a dam at Mekedatu.
ON OPS – TTV MEETING
Answering questions from reporters on the call for his resignation by Opposition parties over complaints about corruption in the government, Palaniswami said, “If one has to resign for every complaint on paper, everyone in India will have to resign.”
To questions on Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s meeting with T T V Dhinakaran, Palaniswami dismissed it, saying that the Deputy CM has already given a detailed explanation.