Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], November 29 : Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MPs, under the leadership of Chief Minister MK Stalin, held a meeting on Saturday to discuss issues concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and the overall performance of MPs.
The meeting was convened to review work reports submitted by the party's MPs. Rajya Sabha MP and DMK Deputy General Secretary Tiruchi Siva said that around 12 resolutions were passed during the session.
DMK MP Kanimozhi highlighted that CM Stalin has urged the Centre to reconsider the metro rail projects for Coimbatore and Madurai. She also emphasised the need for urgent central assistance for critical state schemes, including education and NREGA.
Speaking to the reporters, Kanimozhi said, "The Chief Minister requested that they (MPs) raise the issue of moisture in rice, as we have been affected by floods and rains. The Government of India has not yet responded. They even sent a team to inspect it, but there is no outcome to date. There are many issues that need to be raised. The state needs to receive money for education and NREGA. All this is pending. There are many issues that need to be raised, and we discussed them with the CM."
"They (centre) have given the metro to Agra and other cities that don't have a large population. We have a large population in Coimbatore and Madurai, and yet the central government has refused to provide us with metro trains. The CM has requested that they reconsider this, and we will raise it," she further added.
Rajya Sabha MP Tiruchi Siva reiterated the significance of the 12 resolutions and said MPs have been tasked to follow them up.
Speaking to ANI, Tiruchi Siva said, "Around 12 resolutions have been passed, and we have been assigned to carry them forward. The paddy and the metro in Madurai and Coimbatore, and the expansion of the airports in Coimbatore and Madurai are the main issues (which they discussed in the meeting). Tamil Nadu is being victimised by the Union government in every one of its activities. Even the Finance Commission's recommendation for dividing the revenue share has not been properly implemented, and the Sarva Shiksha on education has also been withheld for quite some time. We insist that it's our responsibility to raise the state's issues."
DMK leader MK TKS Elangovan raised concerns about the plight of fishermen and said the matter would be addressed in Parliament.
He said, "There were many demands placed before the government of India for the welfare of Tamil Nadu, such as the two metro projects in two cities... We have passed a resolution demanding that the government of India consider all these issues. Furthermore, we have instructed our members to speak in Parliament and meet the concerned ministers to demand action..."
On the Special Intensive Revision, Elangovan added, "SIR is a different thing. We cannot discuss it in the parliament. We have to fight with the Election Commission."
Earlier on November 22, CM MK Stalin had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider rejecting the proposals for metro rail systems in Coimbatore and Madurai, emphasising that the "most urbanised state in the country" needs high-capacity public transport across all major cities.