CPI(M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan on Saturday accused Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of “indulging in vendetta politics” to turn the people in the flood-affected areas against the Tamil Nadu government.
“You can certainly make an allegation. But release the amount sought by the State government to undertake relief work first. The Tamil Nadu government has sought ₹21,000 crore from the Centre. Have you even released ₹21 yet,” he asked, during a press conference.
When asked about the allegation that the government was not able to contain the damage even after building a storm-water drain network at a cost of ₹4,000 crore, Mr. Balakrishnan said the amount was just 4% of the total amount sought by the AIADMK and DMK governments from 2015 to 2022 for carrying out the work.
The CPI(M) leader alleged that when the State government was fighting an unprecedented natural calamity, the Union Finance Minister was making accusations out of political vendetta instead of lending a hand. “How many Union Ministers visited the flood-affected areas in Tamil Nadu? Has she bothered to visit these areas? It is unbecoming of a Union Minister to make such a sweeping statement,” he said.
Asked about Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments against Ms. Sitharaman, he said they were an outcome of his anguish at the failure to release funds for relief work. “It is meant to bring pressure on the Centre. She should also keep in mind that when Manipur was burning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was touring foreign countries,” he said.
Mr Balakrishnan said his party had decided to get the opinion of experts on how to mitigate the natural calamities in three districts of Tamil Nadu and would submit a report to the State government.
