FM’s remarks an insult to TN people, says govt

In a recent turn of events, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu has fired back at Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s criticisms regarding the handling of the recent floods in the state. The DMK, visibly irked by Sitharaman’s remarks, has labeled them as an insult to the people of Tamil Nadu. The controversy stems from accusations against the government’s response to the floods, particularly Chief Minister MK Stalin’s participation in the INDIA bloc meeting in the national capital. Responding to Sitharaman’s statements, Thangam Thennarasu, a senior minister in the DMK, issued a pointed retort, stating, “Only one person in the country did not understand the extent of the devastation suffered in Tamil Nadu, which was understood by all others in the country. She is Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.” Thennarasu went on to describe Sitharaman’s response as akin to the “body language of a person fuming at an enemy country at war,” emphasizing that it was an insult directed at the people of Tamil Nadu. He quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to Chief Minister Stalin during their meeting in Delhi, where Modi pledged to fulfill all requests made by Tamil Nadu. Highlighting the financial aspect, Thennarasu revealed that Tamil Nadu had requested the Centre to declare the floods in Chennai and southern districts as a “calamity of severe nature” and release Rs 21,000 crore as relief. However, only Rs 450 crore of usual funds have been realized so far. He further pointed out that since 2015, Tamil Nadu had sought Rs 1.27 lakh crore for various floods but received only Rs 5,884 crore (4.61%). Concluding his statement, Thennarasu suggested a possible correlation between allocated funds and vote share, hinting at a disparity that may exist in the distribution of relief funds based on political considerations. As the political tug-of-war intensifies, the plight of the flood-affected people in Tamil Nadu remains a pressing concern,