Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin during a meeting
Credit: X/@CMOTamilnadu
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday exhorted the Union Government to name new schemes implemented by it across the country in English, the “link language”, amid his government’s pushback against the BJP on the three-language policy.
In his speech at the meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Ayog in New Delhi, Stalin demanded that the states’ share in Central tax revenue should be increased to 50 per cent.
Talking about development projects, Stalin asked the Centre to approve metro rail networks and airport expansions in Coimbatore and Madurai, transfer of Chennai MRTS to Chennai Metro Rail Corporation, upgrade NH32 (Chengalpattu–Tindivanam) to six or eight lanes, establishment of an AIIMS in Coimbatore, and release of funds under Samagra Shiksha.
Contending that the Swachh Ganga initiative has achieved remarkable success in restoring and improving the Ganga river, Stalin said rivers are the lifelines of our nation, and stressed the need for a similar scheme to clean and rejuvenate important rivers in Tamil Nadu such as the Cauvery, Vaigai, and Thamirabarani, as well as other major rivers across the country.
“I therefore request that new schemes be announced for the Cauvery, Vaigai, and Thamirabarani rivers. For all these schemes, I also request that names be given in English, which serves as the link language among all states. The states can translate them into their respective regional languages,” Stalin added.
Stalin’s demand is yet another manifestation of Tamil Nadu’s government insistence on a two-language policy of mother tongue and English.
Stalin said Tamil Nadu registered the highest growth rate in the country at 9.69 percent in the last fiscal, and assured that the state’s contribution to India's target of a 30 trillion dollar economy will be significant.
“Our responsibility is to provide the growing urban population with fundamental amenities, robust infrastructure, and a high quality of life. A major scheme with substantial funding is necessary for the development of urban centres in our country,” he said, adding that the AMRUT 2.0 scheme is nearing completion.
At this juncture, there is an urgent need for a new urban renaissance scheme focusing on quality infrastructure, efficient mobility, and sanitation, Stalin added.
He also demanded that the Centre urgently release the pending Rs 2,200 crore to Tamil Nadu under the SS scheme. “This impacts the education of children studying in government schools and under the RTE (Right to Education) Act. Thus, I strongly urge you to release these funds without delay or one-sided conditions,” he added.
Based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the share of States in the divisible pool of central taxes was increased to 41 percent, Stalin said and complained that only 33.16 percent of the Union's gross tax revenue has in fact been distributed to states.
“…it would be just to raise the States' share in central tax revenue to 50 percent. The Union Government should consider this request seriously,” Stalin added.