Union government has been ‘tenacious’ in refusing funds due to Tamil Nadu, says Finance Minister

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu alleged on Friday that the Union government was “tenaciously” not releasing even a penny to the State. Recalling from the pages of history, he contended that Tamil Nadu had “never bowed down to any dominance from the North”.

According to a legend from Thiruveezhimizhalai in Tiruvarur district, Shaiva poet-saints Sambandar and Thirunavukkarasar pleaded for help after a severe drought and Lord Shiva descended and granted gold coins. “But what is the scenario now? Be it drought or hunger, be it anything for Tamil Nadu, the Union government is tenaciously not releasing even a penny,” he said.

Underlining the hardships being faced by women employed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Mr. Thennarasu said, “We are asking [the Union government] for the wages due to them. But they are refusing to give the wages.”

In an apparent reference to the Samagra Shiksha programme, the Minister said, “They [the Union government] are refusing to grant money for the education of our children. Tamil Nadu is being deceived because it refuses to sign on the dotted line and receive whatever fund is granted.” He recalled Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s stand that the State would not give up its principles [and sign the MoU for the PM SHRI scheme] even if it was offered ₹10,000 crore.

Recalling how Governor Sir Charles Trevelyan of the Madras Presidency had opposed imposition of salt tax and advised the government against it, Mr. Thennarasu quipped, “The Governor from Madras had advised the government then. We should notice here that there have been times past when Governors from here have advised Delhi.”

It was only because the Governor’s advice was rejected and salt tax was imposed that Mahatma Gandhi spearheaded the Salt Satyagraha that destabilised the British rulers, he recalled. “The voice against any decision from the headquarters that is against the welfare of the people has always been raised from the Madras Presidency. It is in the nature of this land to stand by the people.”

Mr. Thennarasu said Tamil Nadu “has not bowed to any dominance from the North under any circumstances at any time”. Tamil Nadu stayed clear of Alexander the Great’s Indian campaign, could not even be touched upon by founder of Maurya Empire Chandragupta Maurya or was not part of Emperor Ashoka’s Empire, the Minister said.

Gupta Emperor Samudragupta could not set foot in Tamil Nadu, the boundaries of the Kanishka Empire did not reach beyond the south of the Vindhyas, the Empire of Akbar Badshah did not reach Tamil Nadu, Aurangazeb’s Empire could not win Tamil Nadu and Chhatrapati Shivaji could not rule over Tamil Nadu, Mr. Thennarasu said.

Quoting from the works of late DMK leader and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, he said Tamil Nadu remained the abode of self-respect.